FR3075584A1 - SHOWER STRUCTURE - Google Patents

Abstract

Shower structure (10) comprising a shower tray (12) having a water drain hole (14) and one or more side walls (22, 24, 26) defining, with the shower tray (12), a shower cabin showerhead (28), at least one of the side walls (24) being supported by a frame (40) and having a removable panel (50) for accessing a maintenance space (36) from the shower enclosure ( 28).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This presentation relates to the field of sanitary installations, and more particularly a shower structure which can be installed in a bathroom or another sanitary space.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND [0002] So-called Italian showers, integrated into the masonry of a bathroom, are known to be aesthetic but require substantial installation work and their maintenance can be complex.

To facilitate the installation of a shower, there are also known structures forming integral prefabricated shower stalls. These structures can be installed as such in the bathrooms and then connected to the pipes. However, the integrated side of these cabin structures can make their maintenance difficult. [0004] There is therefore a need for a new type of shower structure, the maintenance of which can be carried out simply.

GENERAL PRESENTATION For this purpose, the present presentation relates to a shower structure comprising a receiver, having a water drainage hole, and one or more side walls defining, with the receiver, a shower cabin, at least a main wall among the side walls being supported by a frame and comprising a removable panel for accessing a maintenance space from the shower cabin.

We call catcher a floor element of a shower cubicle. The receiver can take the form of a shower tray or a substantially flat element, possibly having inclined portions to facilitate the flow of water through the water drainage hole. The water evacuation hole is intended to lead to a water evacuation, typically comprising a drain and an evacuation pipe, as well as possibly a siphon.

The shower structure comprises at least one side wall, generally two, three or four side walls. The side walls can be of any shape, in particular flat or curved, and of shapes that are different from each other. The side walls can be assembled to the receiver, for example by interlocking, snap-fastening, gluing, etc.

The side walls can be positioned globally on the sides of the receiver, on the periphery of the receiver or close to said periphery. In the position of use of the shower structure, the side walls extend upward relative to the receiver. Thus, the side walls define between them a space, bounded below by the receiver, forming a shower cubicle, that is to say a closed or semi-closed space in which a user can shower.

It is understood that the shower structure comprises, among the side walls, one or more main walls. Thereafter, and unless otherwise indicated, by "one" or "the" main wall means "at least one" or "at least one" main wall. Conversely, the generic use of the plural may include the singular, in particular with regard to the number of side walls.

The main wall may include a portion, fixed relative to the receiver, defining a housing capable of receiving the removable panel.

It is understood that the removable panel can be installed and removed without having to dismantle a complete wall.

Thus, the removable panel can be movable between a mounted position, in which it is integrated into the main wall, and a disassembled position, in which the main wall has an access window to the maintenance space. The window can give, on one side, entirely on the shower cubicle and on the other side entirely on the maintenance space. The removable panel can be provided with means to keep it in the mounted position.

The maintenance space is a space for the maintenance and upkeep of the shower and the various organs it comprises, in particular the plumbing. In addition, the maintenance space can be used as a crawl space, form an essentially hollow buffer enclosure provided for sanitation purposes and provide a space in which the pipes and other plumbing / valves are easily accessible and can be hidden without be drowned in masonry. The maintenance space is located outside the shower enclosure, for example on a side opposite the shower enclosure with respect to the main wall.

Thanks to the above characteristics, the shower structure provides easy and spacious access to the maintenance space, while remaining simple to install.

In some embodiments, the frame includes fixing means for fixing it to a wall. Thus, the main wall can be securely anchored, which improves the stability of the entire structure and security when removing the removable panel. The wall is in particular a vertical or quasi-vertical wall, for example substantially planar and / or with an average inclination of at most 20 °, or even 10 ° relative to the vertical direction.

In some embodiments, said fixing means comprise a system for adjusting the distance between the frame and the wall. These fixing means make it possible to compensate for any defects in the verticality and / or the flatness of the wall, which can occur in particular when only part of the wall is covered with a facing, typically tiling.

In some embodiments, the removable panel extends over at least half the height of the main wall. Thus, the access offered to the maintenance space can be particularly large, therefore practical. Preferably, the removable panel extends over at least 70% of the height of the main wall, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably over the entire height of the main wall. Height is the dimension in the vertical direction, normally transverse to the mean plane of the receiver. The height of a wall generally corresponds to its longitudinal dimension.

In some embodiments, the removable panel is crossed by at least one fluid passage pipe. The fluid may be water, for example for the supply of a shower or a tap, or another fluid, for example when an essential oil diffuser is provided. As a result, the supply lines of said pipe can be located at least partially in the maintenance space. Removing the removable panel provides easy access to these supply lines.

Alternatively or in addition, a valve element can be mounted on the removable panel. Access to this element is thus facilitated by the removal of the removable panel. In addition, the shower structure thus offers an aspect of built-in taps.

In some embodiments, the main wall, or even the removable panel, cooperates by engagement with the receiver. The main wall and / or the removable panel on the one hand, and the receiver on the other hand, are therefore engaged with each other, for example by interlocking. In some embodiments, the main wall includes a support portion having a shoulder capable of receiving the removable panel. The bearing portion can be located on all or part of the periphery of the housing of the removable panel in the main wall, typically on the internal edge of the main wall. Thanks to the shoulder, the removable panel can be installed precisely to integrate with the main wall.

In some embodiments, an assembly area between the removable panel and the rest of the main wall is provided with a seal. Consequently, in certain embodiments, in the mounted position of the removable panel, the seal can be clamped between the removable panel and the rest of the main wall. The assembly zone may include the abovementioned shoulder.

In some embodiments, means for fixing the removable panel relative to the frame are provided in the maintenance space. These fixing means are thus protected from the water flowing in the shower cabin.

In some embodiments, the fixing means are accessible at one end of the main wall opposite the receiver. By passing his hand over the main wall, a user can easily remove the removable panel.

In some embodiments, the fixing means comprise a pin configured to be inserted in a lumen of a plate secured to the removable panel and / or an orifice provided in the frame.

In some embodiments, the shower structure comprises a cover mounted outside the shower enclosure, adjacent to the main wall and delimiting, with the main wall, the maintenance space.

The maintenance space can also be delimited by other elements, for example the aforementioned wall, and / or other walls or walls.

The cover can be mounted removable to allow access to the maintenance space from outside the shower enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples. This description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows, in perspective, a shower structure according to one embodiment, seen from the front;

- Figure 2 shows, in exploded perspective, the shower structure according to the same embodiment, seen from the rear;

- Figure 3 shows, in perspective, the main wall of the shower structure with a removable removable panel, seen from the rear;

- Figure 4 is a sectional view along the plane IV-IV of Figure

2;

- Figure 5 is a sectional view along the plane V-V of Figure 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlargement, seen from another angle, of the zone VI of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS A shower structure 10 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. A direction of height, or direction up (H) - down is defined with respect to these figures. (B), generally vertical in the normal use position of the shower structure, as well as a front (AV) - rear (AR) direction, the rear part of the shower structure being intended to be affixed against a wall , and the front part may be the part through which a user enters the shower enclosure. The directions H-B and AV-AR are generally perpendicular to each other. However, in the present description, the terms associated with these directions are to be understood in a relative sense only, in that they make it possible to distinguish opposite locations, without prejudging the real orientation of the structure in space.

As indicated above, the shower structure 10 comprises a receiver 12 having a water discharge hole 14, here covered by a grid. The water evacuation hole 14 can lead to an evacuation known per se and provided elsewhere.

As seen more clearly in Figure 2, the receiver 12 may include a platform 16, in this case substantially planar, supported by a support frame 18, each foot 20 is here adjustable in height, the adjustment can be locked using typically a lock nut.

The shower structure 10 also includes one or more side walls, in this case three side walls 22, 24, 26. The side walls 22, 24, 26 define, with the receiver 12, a shower cabin 28 in which a user can enter to shower. The side walls 22, 24, 26 define sides of the shower cabin 28, while the receiver 12 defines a bottom, or lower part, of the shower cabin 28.

In this embodiment, the receiver 12 has a substantially parallelepiped shape, with a platform 16 of generally rectangular shape, and the side walls 22, 24, 26 are each placed on one side of the rectangle. In this embodiment, the side walls 22, 24, 26 are planar. However, other forms are possible, in particular when the receiver 12 and / or the platform 16 has non-rectilinear sides.

In this example, the side walls 22, 24, 26 extend from an upper face of the receiver 12, here of the platform 16. The first side wall 22 and the third side wall 26 may each be adjacent to the second side wall 24, on either side of said second wall 24. The second side wall 24 is here a rear wall, while the first and third side walls are side walls. In other embodiments, there may also be provided a fourth wall, for example of the door type, for closing the front facade of the shower cabin 28. Furthermore, the first and third side walls 22, 26 can be secured by a holding bar 30.

In this embodiment, the second and third side walls 24, 26 are intended to be affixed against a wall. The first side wall 22 can be provided transparent and / or provided with a towel holder or a decorative bar, as illustrated in FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the shower structure 10 is said to be reversible in that the first and third side walls 22, 26 can be interchanged depending on the desired installation side.

For aesthetic reasons, the shower structure may include a first cover 32 and / or a second cover 34 (see Figure 1), used to hide the space between the shower structure and the walls. In this embodiment, the second side wall 24 serves as the main wall to the shower structure (hereinafter "main wall 24"). Several main walls could however be provided.

A maintenance space 36, also called a crawl space, is formed outside of the shower cubicle 28, in this case at the rear of the shower cubicle 28. In this embodiment, the maintenance space 36 is delimited by the main wall 24 and the first cover 32 adjacent to the main wall 24. The maintenance space 36 can also be delimited by the walls against which the shower structure 10 is affixed. Figure 2 shows that the maintenance space can house the supply pipes for the various shower components, pipes whose representation is omitted.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 2, the side walls 22, 26 are fitted in respective grooves 22a, 26a of the receiver 12, here of the platform 16, and in respective grooves 22b, 26b provided on the main wall 24. However, other engagement structures could be used, for example structures using rib / groove cooperation. In addition, the cooperation elements can be interchanged between the different side walls and with the receiver. The grooves 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b can be provided with a seal, typically pre-assembled to avoid the use of silicone during the installation of the shower structure 10.

The receiver 12 may have, in its rear part, a leave 38 whose free, upper end, forms a flange on which the main wall 24 can be placed and / or fitted.

The main wall 24 can be supported by a frame 40, as illustrated in Figure 2. In this embodiment, the frame 40 is formed by a frame comprising a plurality of uprights 42 and crosspieces 44, here profiles metal. In addition, the frame 40 may include fixing means 78 for fixing it to a wall, which will be detailed later with reference to FIG. 6. As can be seen in FIG. 2, said fixing means 78 can be provided at less at two points on the frame 40, in this case at six points on the frame 40. The fixing means 78 can be distributed on the upper part of the frame 40 and on its lower part, and / or on each side and possibly in the center , as is the case in this embodiment.

The frame 40 can be assembled to the main wall 24, for example by gluing. In this case, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame 40 can be assembled, via its uprights 42 in this example, to a fixed part of the main wall 24, taking the form here of two strips or longitudinal strips 46. In this embodiment, the longitudinal strips 46 extend over the entire height of the main wall 24, on the sides of this main wall 24, and define between them a housing 48 configured to accommodate a removable panel 50. However, the fixed part of the main wall 24 could be in other forms.

Thus, the main wall 24 includes the removable panel 50 and the disassembly of the removable panel 50 allows, as shown in Figure 3, to access the maintenance space 36 from the shower cabin 28. In d other words, as is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the removable panel 50 is movable between a mounted position (FIG. 2), in which it is integrated into the main wall 24, and a disassembled position, in which the main wall 24 has an access window to the maintenance space 36, the access window here being formed by the housing 48. As can be deduced from FIGS. 2 and 3, the window gives, on one side, to the shower cabin 28 and on the other side on the maintenance space 36.

The removable panel 50 can extend over at least half the height of the main wall 24 or, as in this example, over the entire height of the main wall 24. Thus, the removable panel 50 can be supported on the receiver 12, in this case on the free edge of the leave 38, or even nest therein.

In this embodiment, the removable panel 50 comprises a facing 52 overlooking the shower cubicle 28, as well as a frame 54 supporting this facing 52. For example, the frame 54 may be provided in the form of '' a frame of which all or part of the uprights 56 and / or crosspieces 58 are configured to come into correspondence with the uprights 42 and / or the corresponding crosspieces 44 of the frame 40 when the removable panel 50 is mounted and integrated in the main wall 24 An example is shown in Figure 2, which shows the respective crosspieces 44, 58 of the frame 40 and the frame 54 adjacent to each other. According to one example, the frame 54 can be fixed to the facing 52 by gluing.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the removable panel 50 can be traversed by at least one fluid passage pipe, in this case by a pipe 60 supplying a spray 62. Other valves, such a valve control 64, can also pass through the removable panel 50.

Figure 4, which is a sectional view along the plane IV-IV of Figure 2, illustrates the means for maintaining the removable panel 50 in the mounted position, that is to say the means of fixing the removable panel 50 relative to the frame 40. In the present case, these fixing means consist of an assembly 66 comprising a pin 68 intended to be inserted into two orifices in correspondence with the frame 40 and the frame 54. More precisely , in this embodiment, a cross member 44 of the frame 40 comprises a first orifice. Furthermore, a cross member 58 of the frame 54 is associated with a plate 70 having a second orifice. The first and second holes are provided to align when the removable panel 50 is in the mounted position. The pin 68 can then be inserted into the first and second holes and fix the frame 54 relative to the frame 40, and consequently the removable panel 50 relative to the rest of the main wall 24.

In order to facilitate the alignment of the first and second orifices, at least one of them may have an oblong shape, for example the second orifice, in particular transversely to the direction of withdrawal of the removable panel, which makes it possible to remedy certain assembly inaccuracies.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, there may be provided a plurality of such assemblies 66 forming fastening means, in this case three, distributed or not on different sleepers.

In addition, these fixing means are provided in the maintenance space 36.

Figure 5, which is a sectional view along the plane VV of Figure 2, illustrates the integration of the removable panel 50 in the main wall 24. In this case, the main wall 24, and more precisely each longitudinal strips 46, comprises a support portion 72 having a shoulder 74 capable of receiving the removable panel 50. Each support portion 72 can form, with the corresponding edge of the removable panel 50, an assembly zone. A seal 76 can be provided in said assembly zone. In this case, the seal 76 is a semi-circular section seal which can be pre-assembled on the longitudinal strips 46, for example by gluing. In addition, the alignment between the first and second aforesaid orifices can be dimensioned so that in the mounted position, the removable panel 50 compresses the seal 76 against the bearing portion 72, the seal 76 then flattening and expanding transversely to take the form shown in Figure 5.

In the configuration of Figure 5, the main wall 24 with the removable panel 50 integrated has a flat surface, the removable panel 50 being level with the longitudinal strips 46. Figure 6 illustrates fastening means 78 for fixing the frame 40 to a wall. In this embodiment, said fixing means 78 comprise a system for adjusting the distance between the frame 40 and the wall. Here, the adjustment system comprises two members sliding relative to each other in the direction AV-AR, transversely to the main wall 24, and a blocking element for blocking the relative position of these two members.

For example, the adjustment system may include a blade 80 fixed to the frame 40, in particular to an upright 42 or a crosspiece 44 (see also Figure 2), and provided with an oblong light 80a. Furthermore, the adjustment system may include a bracket 82, each face of which may have a light 82a, 82b, for the respective fixing of the bracket 82 to the blade 80 and to the wall. In this example, a bolt 84 is inserted in the respective slots 80a, 82a of the blade 80 and of the bracket 82 and ensures both the translational guidance of the bracket 82 relative to the blade 80, when the bolt 84 is loosened, and the locking in position of the bracket 82 relative to the blade 80 when the bolt 84 is tightened. An assembly method according to an exemplary embodiment will now be described.

We can start by placing the receiver 12 on the ground. For example, to leave a space of appropriate size between the receiver 12 and a wall, it is possible to press the rear face of a plinth 19 of the receiver 12 against a wall.

The main wall 24 is mounted without a removable panel 50, that is to say essentially the frame 40 and the longitudinal strips 46, on the receiver 12. Thanks to the housing 48 forming an access window, it is possible to 'Easily access the fixing means 78 from the shower cabin 28 to fix the frame 40 against the wall, using the previously described adjustment system if necessary. The lights 82b of the brackets 82 can be fixed to the wall in a manner known per se.

Once the pipe connections have been made, and more generally all the operations which require easy access to the maintenance space, the removable panel 50 is assembled to the frame 40 so as to form the complete main wall 24. The positioning of the removable panel 50 can be achieved by pressing and / or fitting the bottom of the removable panel 50 on the receiver 12 and by pivoting the removable panel 50, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The removable panel 50 is kept in position mounted by inserting the pins 68 provided for the upper cross member of the removable panel; in fact, the means for fixing the removable panel 50 relative to the frame, namely the assembly 66, being accessible at one end of the main wall 24 opposite the receiver 12, it is sufficient for an installer located in the shower cabin to pass your hand over the main wall 24 to install the pins 68.

The pin 68 provided on the intermediate cross member, in the lower part of the removable panel 50, can be inserted through the lateral opening of the maintenance space 36, before the first cover 32 is installed.

The first and third side walls 22, 26, as well as the holding bar 30 which connects them, can be installed before or after the removable panel 50.

Disassembly of the removable panel 50 to gain access to the maintenance space can be achieved by removing the pins 68 and then pivoting the removable panel 50, in the opposite direction to the steps described above.

Although the present description refers to specific exemplary embodiments, modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the various illustrated / mentioned embodiments can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

Claims (10)

1. Shower structure (10) comprising a receiver (12), having a water drainage hole (14), and one or more side walls (22, 24, 26) defining, with the receiver (12), a shower cabin (28), at least one main wall (24) among the side walls being supported by a frame (40) and comprising a removable panel (50) for accessing a maintenance space (36) from the cabin shower (28). 2. Shower structure (10) according to claim 1, wherein the frame (40) comprises fixing means (78) for fixing it to a wall. 3. Shower structure (10) according to claim 2, wherein said fixing means (78) comprise an adjustment system (80, 82, 84) of the distance between the frame and the wall. 4. Shower structure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the removable panel (50) extends over at least half the height of the main wall (24). 5. Shower structure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the removable panel (50) is traversed by at least one fluid passage pipe (60). 6. Shower structure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main wall (24) comprises a bearing portion (72) having a shoulder (74) capable of receiving the removable panel (50 ). 7. Shower structure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which an assembly zone between the removable panel (50) and the rest of the main wall is provided with a seal ( 76). 8. Shower structure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which fixing means (66) of the removable panel (50) relative to the frame (40) are provided in the maintenance space ( 36). 9. Shower structure (10) according to claim 8, wherein said fixing means (66) are accessible at one end of the main wall (24) opposite to the receiver (12). 15 10. Shower structure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a cover (32) mounted outside the shower enclosure (28), adjacent to the main wall (24) and delimiting, with the main wall (24), the maintenance space (36 ).