FR2834921A1 - PANEL AND CLADDING DEVICE, SANITARY INSTALLATION INCLUDING SUCH A PANEL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A CLADDING PANEL - Google Patents

Abstract

The shower stall has one or more panels (1) made with inner and outer (6) walls with a water distribution chamber between them. The chamber has at least one water inlet and a series of outlets (14) in the form of holes in the outer wall, delivering jets of water into the shower stall, e.g. from the top or side. The distribution chamber is flat in shape and less than 5 mm thick, with outlet holes between 0.5 and 4 mm in diameter covering an area of at least 0.1 sq m with a mean density of 280 holes per sq m.

Description

**** The present invention relates to the arrangement of showers

  individual or collective. More specifically, it relates to a panel and a covering device for a wall defining a space for showering, as well as a sanitary installation comprising such a panel. It also relates to the use of such a sanitary installation and to a method of manufacturing a

  cover panel as mentioned above.

  Most known shower heads have a diameter of around 5 cm and distribute the water in the form of a bundle of concentrated jets. Other known shower heads have an average diameter generally ranging from 10 to 30 cm and consume a greater flow of water. Such shower heads are effective with regard to personal hygiene. As far as user comfort is concerned, efforts made to date have notably focused on the configuration of the perching of the apples

  showers and have led to limited results.

  The invention therefore aims at least to increase the

comfort of such a user.

  To this end, the subject of the invention is a covering panel for a wall defining a space for showering, this covering panel comprising: first and second main faces, opposite and respectively intended to be visible and hidden, and - a distribution chamber provided with at least one water inlet inlet and partly delimited by a water dissemination wall outside the distribution chamber, this dissemination wall defining the first main face and being breakthrough

  of a plurality of through holes.

  According to other advantageous characteristics of this covering panel: the through holes are distributed over at least 0.1 m2; - The distribution chamber has a flattened shape and extends against said dissemination wall; - most of the distribution chamber has a thickness of less than 5 mm; - the distribution chamber is delimited by a stack in which a first plate forming said dissemination wall and a second plate are separated from each other by at least one spacer, the first plate, the spacer and the second plate being assembled with a watertight seal; - the spacer has the shape of a frame; - the distribution chamber has several water intake inlets, spaced apart and connected to the same water supply duct; - This covering element is more precisely a covering element for the ceiling; - not taking into account any regions devoid of a through hole, said through holes are distributed over the first main face at an average density of 280 holes / m2; - the through holes are distributed over the first main face according to a density which is greater in a substantially central region and decreases progressively away from this substantially central region; - The dissemination wall has a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, the through holes having an average diameter between 0.5 mm and 4 mm; - This covering panel is more precisely a covering panel for the side wall of a space for showering; - It comprises: 5. means for mounting it, by sliding in a determined direction, on a load-bearing structure permanently installed in a building or the like, and first quick connection means connected to said water inlet inlet and able to cooperate with second complementary connection means permanently installed in the building, these first connection means being directed into said

direction determines.

  The invention also relates to a covering device for a wall defining a space for showering, characterized in that it comprises: a covering panel as defined above - said supporting structure, intended to support the panel covering and for this purpose comprising means for retaining complementary means for mounting the covering panel, - said second connection means, and - means for positioning the support structure and said second connection means, in a position predetermined relative o said first connection means and said second connection means couple at the same time as the

  covering panel on the supporting structure.

  In addition, the subject of the invention is a sanitary installation, characterized in that it comprises: - a covering panel as defined above, and - a crime counter, placed upstream of the distribution chamber and specially designed to stabilize the delIT of the water supplying this distribution chamber, around a value at which the average water flow rate per through hole of the dissemination wall is

  between 0.1 liters / min and 0.3 liters / min.

  Furthermore, the subject of the invention is a method of

  manufacture of a covering panel as defined above

  above, characterized in that it comprises a step in which said through holes are drilled by laser beam. The invention will be clearly understood on reading the

  description which follows, given only as

  example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary installation according to the invention, and more specifically of a space for showering, in particular delimited by a covering panel, according to the invention, for ceiling and by a covering panel, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, for side wall; - Figure 2 is a schematic view, exploded and partially broken away, in perspective, and shows a covering device according to the invention and comprising the covering panel for ceiling visible in Figure 1; - Figure 3A and Figure 3B are two similar views, in section along plane III of Figure 1 and respectively illustrate a step of mounting the covering panel for the ceiling and the overall configuration of the covering device of the Figure 2 once the cover panel for ceiling mounted; - Figure 4 is an exploded and schematic view, in perspective, and illustrates a step in the assembly of the covering panel for the ceiling shown in Figures 1 to 3B; and - Figure 5 is a bottom view of the panel

  covering for ceiling shown in Figures 1 to 3s.

  In FIG. 1, a covering panel 1, conforming to

  the invention forms the ceiling of a space for showering.

  It is part of a covering device 2, according to the invention, for a ceiling. This covering device 2, shown in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, further comprises a support structure 3 and female means for quick connection of the covering panel 1 to a duct 5

water supply.

  This covering panel 1 has two main and opposite faces, namely a face 6 intended to be visible and located on the underside or place, and a face 7 intended to be hidden and located on the top or back. As can be seen in FIG. 5, it comprises a stack 8, in which an upper plate 9 defining the visible face 6 and a lower plate 10 defining the hidden face 7 are separated from each other by a spacer 11 in the form of a frame. This spacer 11 has a small thickness insofar as it is produced from a sheet metal plate, from which the

central part.

  The upper plate 9, the spacer 11 and the lower plate 10 are assembled with a seal, for example by gluing. In this way, the stack 8 delimits a distribution chamber 12, visible in FIG. 2, this distribution chamber it ion 1 2 having a very flat shape and a thickness substantially equal to that of the spacer 11, advantageously included between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 1.5 mm and 3 mm, and more

precisely of the order of 2 mm.

  The upper plate 9 is pierced with two holes 13, which form two water inlet inlets in the distribution chamber 12 and are spaced from one another for a

  better distribution of the latter's food.

  The lower plate 10 is pierced with a plurality of through holes 14, which open into the distribution chamber 12 and are intended to be supplied with water by the latter. It therefore forms a dissemination wall of

  water in the form of drops in the space for showering.

  The holes 14 are drilled by a laser beam and have a diameter advantageously between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 3 mm and more precisely of the order of 1.5 mm. As can be seen in FIG. 5, they are distributed in a region 15 located at the right of the distribution chamber 12, a portion 16 of the lower plate 10 projecting from the spacer 11 and not comprising

no hole 14.

  In this region 15, the density of these holes 14 is uneven and, on average, advantageously between 200 holes / m2 and 500 holes / m2, preferably between 250 holes / m2 and 400 holes / m2, and more precisely l '' order of 280 holes / m2. This density is greater in a region 17 substantially in the center of region 15 and it decreases progressively as one moves away from

  this substantially central region 17.

  Region 15 has a surface advantageously between 0.1 m2 and 1.5 m2, preferably between 0.12 m2

  and 1 m2, and more precisely of the order of 0.36 m2.

  Visibly in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, the covering panel 1 is equipped with a water supply conduit 18, fixed along the hidden face 7 and one end of which is provided with male means of quick connection 19, known per se and complementary to the female connection means 4. The other end 20 of this supply duct 18 communicates, by means of a pierced connection and fixing block 21, with two distribution pipes 22, each of which is. in turn, placed in communication with the distribution chamber 12, by a hollow connection and fixing block 23 covering a

intake hole 13.

  Several hooks 24 for mounting the covering panel 1 on the support structure 3 are fixed on the hidden face 7. Three in number in the example shown, they are distributed on the upper plate 9, away from each others, and are turned in the direction towards which the male connection means 19 are directed. One of them is arranged in the extension of the supply conduit 18, opposite to the male connection means 19. I1 is drilled with a horizontal hole for the passage of a panel immobilization screw 26

  covering 1 on the supporting structure 3.

  This support structure 3 is generally flat and cross-shaped. It comprises a longitudinal body 27, which is extended by a positioning head 28 and a foot 29, arranged opposite one another. It also comprises two lateral arms 30, each extending at an angle

  straight from one side of the longitudinal body 27.

  The foot 29, as well as a constituent portion of each arm 30 and located away from the longitudinal body 27, each define a horizontal face 31 for retaining

  of the covering panel 1 by its mounting hooks 24.

  This retaining surface 31 is disposed between two holes 32 drilled in the support structure 3, and it is offset downward relative to these two holes 32. The latter are provided for the passage of fixing screws, not shown, of this load-bearing structure 3 on a ceiling

33 visible in Figures 3A and 3B.

  The foot 29 further defines an ear 34 for immobilizing the covering panel 1 on the support structure 3, this immobilizing ear 34 extending vertically downwards from a retaining surface 31 and being pierced with '' a threaded hole 35 for screwing

the immobilizing screw 26.

  The positioning head 28 is provided for placing the support structure 3 and the female connection means 4 in the predetermined relative position which they occupy in FIGS. 3A and 3B. To this end, this positioning head 28 is pierced with two positioning holes 36, spaced from one another and provided for

  the passage of two positioning screws 37.

  The female connection means 4 are known per se, sanf in that they are provided with a mechanical flow controller 40 and in that they define a flat positioning surface 38, on which the positioning head 28 is intended to be applied and which is pierced with two threaded holes 39 for the screwing of the screws

positioning 37.

  In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the support structure 3, fixed to the ceiling 35, and the female connection means 4 are permanently installed in the predetermined position mentioned above, inside a

building or the like.

  In FIG. 3A, the covering panel 1 is being mounted on the supporting structure 3. It is made to slide towards the female connection means 4, in the direction symbolized by the arrows F. this direction also being that towards which are directed the male connection means 19 and towards which the mounting hooks are turned 24. Also, the female 4 and male connection means 19 mate at the same time as the mounting hooks 24 come to adapt to the surfaces

restraint 31.

  The sliding of the covering panel 1 is stopped by the abutment, against the immobilizing ear 34, of a vertical portion of the mounting hook 24 pierced with the hole 25. The covering panel 1 has then reached the position which is illustrated in FIG. 3B and in which it is immobilized by the immobilizing screw 26 screwed into the hole 35. A section of the edge of the lower plate 10 then carries locally on a front face 41 of the means

connecting females 4.

  It appears from the above that the mounting of the covering panel 1 is particularly rapid. It is also simple and secure, so it can be done by someone with little or no skill in the plumbing field. In addition, the covering panel 1 is removable since it can be easily disassembled by applying the reverse procedure to that which has just been described. This greatly facilitates its maintenance and in particular its descaling. In operation, the regulator 40 determines the delIT of the water supplying the distribution chamber 12. It is chosen so that the average water flow rate per hole 14 is between 0.1 l / mm (liters / minute) and 0.3 l / min, advantageously between 0.11 l / min and 0.25 l / min, and preferably of the order of 0.13 l / min. In this way, we get closer to the characteristics of natural rain, while responding favorably to a concern for economy: obtaining low water consumption. In the preferred case where the covering panel 1 has between 100 and 120 holes, the regulator 40 is designed so as to be able to stabilize only around 13 l / min the flow of water flowing to the

distribution chamber 12.

  Due to the geometrical characteristics of the holes 14, the water escapes from the covering panel 1 not in the form of jets, but substantially in the form of drops falling in the manner of a dense and artificial rain. The dimensions of region 15, which contains these holes 14, are such that a standing user, under this region 15, is inside the artificial rain which falls not only on his skull, but also on his face and his shoulders. This user experiences a new overall impression which is accompanied by a certain well-being, in accordance with the aim of the invention. The arrangement of the holes 14 inside the region 15 contributes to the feeling of well being felt by the user. In particular, the distance of the holes 14 from one another, that is to say the low density with which these holes 14 are distributed in the region 15, tends to bring the characteristics of the artificial rain closer to

those of natural rain.

  Unlike drilling with a drill which generates burrs and roughness, the drilling of holes 14 by laser beam results in a substantially smooth surface condition and promotes the fall of water.

  directly from and to the right of these holes 14.

  As water does not escape from the holes 14 in the form of fine and powerful jets, the artificial rain created by the covering panel 1 contains very little, if any, very fine droplets, capable of forming an aerosol , to be breathed and thus to transmit logionellosis. By very fine droplets, we mean

  gouLtelettes which can have a size lower than 5 m.

  Due to its very small thickness, the distribution chamber 12 can only store very little water, which further reduces the risks of transmission of legionellosis. The small volume of this distribution chamber 12 is also accompanied by a low thermal inertia of the covering panel 1, during the start-up of which only little stored water, which can be cold, must therefore be driven out by the arrival of water at the right temperature. Furthermore, the presence and spacing of several holes 13 for the admission of water inside the distribution chamber 12 go in the direction of a homogeneous supply of this chamber 12, and therefore of a sufficient reduction in the temperature disparity inside the artificial rain for this

  disparity is not noticeable by a user.

  In Figure 1, a cover panel 101 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention differs from the cover panel 1 in that it is intended to form

  all or part of a side wall, not a ceiling.

  Consequently, its outlet holes 114 are configured so that the water passing through them is propelled to the

away, in the form of jets.

Claims (16)

  1. covering panel for wall defining a space for showering, this covering panel comprising: - first (6) and second (7) main faces, opposite and respectively intended to be visible and hidden, and - a bedroom distribution (12) provided at least with a water inlet inlet (13) and partly delimited by a wall (10) for the dissemination of water outside the distribution chamber (12), this dissemination wall (10) defining the first main face (6) and being pierced with a plurality of holes crossing (14; 114).   2. covering panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the through holes (14; 114) are spread over at least 0.1 m2.   3. covering panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distribution chamber (12) has a flattened shape and extends against said wall of dissemination (10).   4. covering panel according to claim 3, characterized in that most of the   distribution (12) has a thickness of less than 5 mm.   5. covering panel according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the distribution chamber (12) is delimited by a stack in which a first plate (10) forming said dissemination wall and a second plate (9) are separated from each other by at least one spacer (11), the first plate (10), the spacer (11)   and the second plate (9) being assembled with a seal.   6. covering panel according to claim 5, characterized in that said spacer (11) has the form of a frame.   7. Dressing panel according to any one of   preceding claims, characterized in that the   distribution chamber (12) has several water inlet entrances (13), spaced apart and connected to the same water supply duct (18). 8. Cover panel according to any of the   previous claims, characterized in that this   covering element is more precisely an element for ceiling covering.   9. covering panel according to claim 8, characterized in that by not taking into account any regions devoid of through holes (14), said through holes (14) are distributed over the first main face (6) at an average density of 280 holes / m2.   10. covering panel according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the through holes (14) are distributed on the first main face (6) according to a density which is greater in a substantially central region (17) and decreases gradually moving away from   this substantially central region (17).   11. Dressing panel according to any one of   Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the wall of   dissemination (10) has a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, the through holes (14) having a mean diameter between 0.5 mm and 4 mm.   12. Dressing panel according to any of the   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that this panel   more precisely, a dressing panel   for side wall of a space for showering.   13. Dressing panel according to any of the   previous claims, characterized in that   includes: - means for mounting (24), by sliding in a determined direction (F), on a support structure (3) permanently installed in a building or the like, and - first quick connection means (19) connected to said water inlet inlet (13) and able to cooperate with second complementary connection means (4) permanently installed in the building, these first connection means (19) being directed in said determined direction (F).   14. A covering device for a wall defining a space for showering, characterized in that it comprises: - a covering panel (1; 101) according to claim 13, - said supporting structure (3), intended to support the panel covering (1; 101) and comprising for this purpose retaining means (31) complementary to the mounting means (24) of the covering panel (1; 101), - said second connection means (4), and means (28, 36, 37 ,, 38, 39) for positioning the support structure (3) and said second connection means (4), in a predetermined relative position o said first connection means (19) and said second connection means (4) are coupled at the same time as the covering panel (1; 101) is mounted on the support structure (3). 15. Sanitary installation, characterized in that it comprises: - a covering panel (1) according to one   any of claims 8 to 11, and   - a flow controller (40), placed upstream of the distribution chamber (12) and specially designed to stabilize the flow of the water supplying this distribution chamber (12), around a value at which the flow d 'average water per through hole (14) of the dissemination wall (10) is between 0.1 liter / min and 0.3 liter / min. 16. Method of manufacturing a covering panel   according to any one of claims 1 to 13,   characterized in that it includes a step in which   laser pierces said through holes (14).