FR2795616A1 - SHOWER SCREEN FOR FITTING A BIN, SUCH AS A BATHTUB - Google Patents

Abstract

The shower screen consists of a panel (8) surrounded by a frame (5) made from upright (6) and transverse (7) members. One frame upright is fitted with two sliders (9) which are able to move vertically in a slotted support (13) which is able to rotate about its vertical axis and is connected to an upright (16) fastened to a supporting surface such as a wall. The rotary support (13) contains a gas cylinder (26) to facilitate the vertical movement of the screen.

Description

i The present invention relates to a shower screen intended to equip a

  tub such as a bathtub. To allow taking showers in a bathtub, without splashing the room with water, it is advantageous to equip a shower screen which will form a screen delimiting the volume located above the bathtub or a part of this volume, vis-à-vis the rest of the room. It is known to produce a shower screen comprising at least one flap consisting of a frame made of a profile and a central panel, one of the vertical uprights of the frame being pivotally mounted and sliding vertically to allow the flap to occupy different positions and in particular a low position in abutment against the edge of the tank and a raised and pivoted position with respect to the previous one in which the panel is, for example, pressed against a wall above the fittings. This solution allows full access to the tank when the bathtub is not used in the shower. This movement also facilitates the cleaning conditions of the shower screen. An important problem to be solved is that of carrying out the various sliding and rotational movements in a compact volume, as well as that of maintaining the shower screen both in the low position and in the raised position. The object of the invention is to provide a shower screen equipped with

  particularly simple and effective locking means.

  To this end, this shower screen, of the type comprising at least one flap constituted by a frame made of profiles and a central panel, one of the vertical uprights of the frame being pivotally mounted and sliding vertically to allow the flap to occupy different positions and in particular a low position resting against an edge of the tank and a raised and pivoted position relative to the previous one in which the flap is, for example, pressed against a wall, above the taps, is characterized in that '' it comprises at least two slides integral with the vertical upright of the frame located on the side of the flap joint, engaged and guided in translation in a section split longitudinally, itself mounted to pivot about a vertical axis opposite of a profile fixed on a support such as a wall, at least one of the slides used to effect the blocking in vertical translation of the shutter in one of its positions

end, low or high.

  In this shower screen, at least one of the slides serving to carry out the vertical guiding of the shower screen, also participates in producing the

blocking of it.

  According to a characteristic of this shower screen, the longitudinally split profile comprises, at its ends, two inserts intended to cooperate with two lower and upper plates integral with the profile

fixed, to form two pivots.

  According to a first embodiment of this shower screen, the highest slide comprises a part housed in the split profile, having a tubular shape, while the upper insert forming a part of the pivot comprises a part of cylindrical shape and of section corresponding substantially to that of the tubular part of the slide, so that in the high position of the shower screen, the cylindrical part of the pivot is

  tightly engaged in the tubular part of the upper slide.

  In such a case, the shower screen is applied to the edge of the tank,

  under the sole action of gravity. When you want to block the barrier

  shower in high position, at the end of sliding, the tubular part of the upper slide engages with tightening around the cylindrical part of the pivot thus achieving a blocking of the shower screen in position

high.

  Advantageously, inside the longitudinally split profile, and in the lower part thereof, is housed an elastic device for compensating the weight of the shower screen, constituted for example by a gas spring, whose force developed vertically from below up

  is less than the weight of the shower screen.

  This elastic compensation device makes it possible to assist the movement of the shower screen, without opposing the support thereof on the edge of the bathtub insofar as the force of the elastic element is

  less than the weight of the shower screen.

  According to another embodiment of this shower screen, inside the profile split longitudinally, and in the lower part thereof is housed vertically a gas spring, developing a force greater than the weight of the movable part, of which the end of the rod bears against a lower stop and the opposite end of the body of which is fitted with an end piece intended to be associated with a slide secured to the vertical upright of the frame, this end piece being intended, during the race of the jack, to bear laterally against a guide plate fixed on the inner face of the split profile, and at the end of the stroke corresponding to the retracted position of the rod and to the low position of the shower screen, to come below the plate and to bear against the underside thereof which forms a stop. To carry out the unlocking, the user exerts a slight movement of the shower screen upwards. The slide bearing against the end of the gas spring releases the latter, so that under the action of relaxation of the spring the end piece emerges from the guide plate under which it was resting, the end piece returning resting against the slide to move the movable part of the shower screen upwards. Advantageously, in this case, the slide associated with the end piece of the gas spring comprises an inclined boss tending, in the retracted position of the rod, to exert lateral pressure on the end piece of the body of the

  cylinder, to press it against the inside of the split profile,

below the guide plate.

  In any case, the invention will be well understood using the

  description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing

  representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, two embodiments of

this shower screen.

  Figure 1 is a general view of the mounting of a shower screen

associated with a bathtub.

  Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first shower screen

in the high locking position.

  Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

  Figure 4 is an exploded and partial perspective view of

  main components of a second shower screen.

  Figure 5 and 6 are two longitudinal sectional views of this second over-shower respectively in the low locking position and in

  lifting position just after unlocking.

  Figure 1 shows part of a bathtub 2 arranged in a corner of a bathroom. In this bathtub, the water supply is carried out from a tap 3 arranged on a wall panel 4. This bathtub is equipped with a shower screen designated by the general reference 5, comprising, in the form of execution shown in the drawing a single flap. This flap comprises two vertical uprights 6 and two horizontal crosspieces 7, made of metal sections such as aluminum, framing a central panel 8. This flap is movable between a position shown in solid lines in Figure 1 in which it is support against the wall 4, in the raised position above the tap 3, thus completely freeing access to the bathtub. This flap can also be brought into the position shown in phantom in Figure 1, in which the lower cross member 7 bears on the edge of the

  bathtub, parallel to it, the flap then acting as a barrier

shower.

  Figures 2 and 3 show a first embodiment

of the shower screen according to the invention.

  In this embodiment, the component is designated by the

  same references as before.

  On the amount 6 located closest to the articulation axis are

  fixed two slides 9 offset parallel to each other.

  Each slide comprises a part 10 for fixing to the upright 6, a tubular part 12 engaged in a vertical profile 13 and a central blade 14 connecting the parts 10 and 12, passing through a longitudinal slot 15 which the profile 13 comprises. The parts 12 are tubular, and are guided longitudinally inside the profile 13 to achieve the vertical displacement of the flap. The shutter is rotated by pivoting the profile 13 around a vertical axis, opposite a profile 16, which is for its part fixed directly or indirectly to the wall. This rotation is achieved by two upper 17 and lower 18 plates integral with the profile 16 and each comprising pivots 19. In the profile 13, is housed a lower tubular insert 20, which pivots around the pivot 19. In the upper part of the profile 13 is mounted an insert 22 pivoting around the pivot 19, and comprising a cylindrical extension 23 extending downward. This cylindrical extension has a section corresponding substantially to the section of the opening of the tubular part 12 of the upper slide. In the lower part of the profile 13 is also housed a gas spring 24 whose rod 25 bears against the lower plate 18, and whose body 26 bears on the lower face of the tubular part 12 of the lower slide 9. The force of the gas spring 24 is less than the weight of the shower screen flap. Thus, the lower cross member 7 of the shutter rests on the edge of the bathtub on the sole action of gravity. When it is desired to lock the flap in the high position, after a possible pivoting around the vertical axis, this movement is carried out manually with the assistance of the gas spring 24, until the part 23 of the insert upper comes to engage with friction in the tubular part 12 of the upper slide 9. To unlock the flap just

  to exert an action on it down.

  A shower screen made according to this embodiment may not entirely be equipped with an assistance cylinder or other device with

  spring, the operation being carried out entirely manually.

  Figures 4 to 6 show another embodiment.

  In this other embodiment, the general architecture of the overlay as regards the vertical guiding in translation and the pivoting is the same, so that the same elements are designated by the same references as above. In this case, the profile 13 has, in its wall opposite to that provided with a slot 15, a portion 30 in the form of a slide in which is engaged on the one hand a guide plate 32 and on the other hand a low stop 33 for the end of the rod

  a gas spring 24 whose body 26 is turned upwards.

  In this shower screen, the upper insert used for rotation is

  identical to the lower insert 20 and designated by the same reference as this

  this. This shower screen comprises three slides, that is to say two lower and upper slides designated by the general reference 9 and having a structure close to that of the slides described above, with the difference that the tubular part is open, and a central slide 34. This central slide 34 has a boss

  turned on the side opposite to its part 10 for fixing to the upright 6.

  The free end of the body 26 of the gas cylinder 24 is equipped with a nozzle 36 comprising a lateral flat 37 forming a ramp, turned towards the side of the slot 15 of the profile 13. The length of the cylinder, and the positioning of the plate 32 are such that over most of the stroke of the jack, the endpiece 36 being supported on the slide 34, the endpiece is supported laterally against the guide plate. When the flap arrives in the low position in abutment against the edge of the bath, the end piece 36 escapes from the guide plate, passing below the latter, and the slide 34 acting, by means of the boss 35 lateral pressure on the end piece 36, by pressing the boss 35 on the ramp 37, the end piece bears against the wall of the profile 13 opposite the slot 15 thereof, so that the end piece 36 is locked under the guide plate 32, as shown in Figure 5. The force of the gas spring being greater than the weight of the shutter, it is necessary, to achieve a vertical displacement of the shutter upwards to exert a slight upward action on the flap to release the slide 34 of the nozzle 36 from the body 26 of the gas spring, the expansion of the jack and the absence of stress exerted laterally on the end piece allowing the release thereof, then its displacement upwards during which it rests on the intermediate slide 34 to ensure through the action of the jack the

  movement of the shutter upwards, as shown in figure 6.

  As is apparent from the above, the invention brings a great improvement to the existing technique by providing a shower screen of simple structure, and in which the locking means are

  partly constituted by bodies fulfilling other functions.

  As it goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this shower screen described above by way of examples, on the contrary they embrace all the variants. Thus, in particular, this shower screen could have two shutters

  mounted horizontally sliding one on the other, or even that this

  shower could include means for adjusting its verticality without

  that we therefore go beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

  1 - Shower screen intended to equip a tray, such as a bathtub, of the type comprising at least one flap (5) constituted by a frame made of profiles (6,7) and a central panel (8), one vertical uprights (6) of the frame being pivotally mounted and sliding vertically to allow the flap to occupy different positions and in particular a low position in abutment against an edge of the tank and a raised and pivoted position relative to the previous one in which the flap is, for example, pressed against a wall, above the fitting, characterized in that it comprises at least two slides (9,34) integral with the vertical upright (6) of the frame located on the side of the articulation of the flap, engaged and guided in translation in a profile (13) split longitudinally, itself pivotally mounted about a vertical axis opposite a profile (16) fixed on a support such as a wall, I '' at least one of the slides (9,34) serving to carry out the blocking in translatio n vertical of the shutter in one of its end positions, low or high.   2 - Shower screen according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile (13) split longitudinally comprises, at its ends, two inserts (20,22) intended to cooperate with two lower plates (18) and   upper (17) integral with the fixed profile (16), to form two pivots.   3 - Shower screen according to claim 2, characterized in that the highest slide (9) has a part (12) housed in the split profile (13) having a tubular shape, while the upper insert (22) forming a part of the pivot comprises a part (23) of cylindrical shape and section corresponding substantially to that of the tubular part (12) of the slide, so that in the high position of the shower screen, the cylindrical part (23) of the pivot be tightly engaged in the game   tubular (12) of the upper slide.   4- shower screen according to claim 3, characterized in that inside the profile (13) split longitudinally, and in the lower part thereof, is housed an elastic device to compensate for the weight of the shower screen , constituted for example by a gas spring (24), whose force   developed vertically from bottom to top is less than the weight of the screen shower.   - Shower screen according to any one of claims 1 and   2, characterized in that inside the section (13) split longitudinally, and in the lower part thereof is housed vertically a gas spring (24), developing a force greater than the weight of the movable part, of which The end of the rod (25) bears against a lower stop (33) and the opposite end of the body (26) of which is fitted with a nozzle (36) intended to be associated with a slide (34) integral with 'a vertical upright (6) of the frame, this end piece (36) being intended, during the stroke of the jack, to bear laterally against a guide plate fixed on the inner face of the split profile (13), and at the end of race corresponding to the   retracted position of the rod and at the low position of the shower screen, coming in   bottom of the plate (32) and to bear against the underside of which forms a stop.   6 - Shower screen according to claim 5, characterized in that the slide (34) associated with the end piece (36) of the gas spring (24) comprises a boss (35) inclined tending, in the retracted position of the rod ( 25), to exert lateral pressure on the end piece (36) of the body of the jack, to press it against the inside of the split profile (13), below the guide plate (32).