GB2188838A - Water-tight panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A water-tight panel for fitting to a bath to form a shower screen or for fitting to other panels to form a shower cubicle comprises a sheet (1) of water-proof fabric the edges of which incorporate stiffening members (7) to enable them to be received and retained in water-tight manner in hollow channels (2) situated adjacent the inner edges of the members (3) of a rigid frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water-tight panel This invention relates to water-tight panels forfitting to baths to form shower screens or flitting togetherto form shower cubicles.

According to the present invention such a panel comprises a rigid frame and a sheet of water-proof fabric the edges of which surround or incorporate stiffening members extending the length of each edge and are received and retained in water-tight manner in internal channels which extend longitudinallyoftheindividual membersofsaid frame and open onto the innerorside edges of said frame members.

Two forms of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawingsinwhich; Figure 1 is an elevational view of a complete panel; and Figures 2 to 6 are cross-sectioning taken on the lineA-Ain Figure 1 showing differentforms offixing for the fabric and different ways offurnishing offthe outer surface of the frame.

The panel shown in Figure 1 comprises a sheet 1 of suitablytreated fabric the edges ofwhich are received and retained in water-tight fashion in the inner sections 2 of hollowframe members 3 which are each extruded from aluminium alloy to provide an inner section 2 an outer section 4 and a central section 5 and are secured together by mitred joints at the corners to form a frame 6 provided with hinges or other members 18 forfixing the panel to a wall orthe iike.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the sheet 1 has nylon rods 7 sewn into its edges which are received and retained by rubber gaskets 8 mounted in the sections 2 of the frame members 3 with the sheet passing through narrow slots 9 in the innermostwallsoftheframemembers.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 3to 6the edgesofthesheetl are wrapped around plugs 10 of resilient or deformable material which are inserted in the sections 2 of the frame members 3 through slots 11 in the side walls (Figures 3 and 4) orslots 12 in the innermost walls (Figures 5 and 6).

In each of the illustrated embodiments the outer section 4 of each frame member 3 is adapted to hold either a bubble rubber seal 13 for engagement with a bath orwall,oracoverstrip 14forfinishing offthe outer surface of the panel, said seal 13 or cover strip 14 having either an enlarged portion 15 which enters the section 4 or a resilient portion 16 which snaps into a slot 17 in the outermost surface oftheframe member.

1. A water-tight panel for use in forming a shower screen or cubicle, said panel comprising a rigid frame and a sheet ofwater-prooffabric the edges of which surround or incorporate stiffening members each extending the length of one edge and are received and retained in water-tight manner in internal channels which extend longitudinally of the individual members of said frame and open ontothe inner or side edges of said frame members forthe passage of said sheet.

2. A panel according to Claim 1, wherein each frame member is extruded from aluminium alloy to provide an inner hollow section or channel to receive an edge of said sheet, a central hollow section or channel and on outer hollow section or channel for anchoring a sealing member or outer cover.

3. Apanel accordingto Claim 1 or2,wherein each stiffening member comprises a nylon rod sewn into an edge of said sheet and cooperating with a gasket in said inner section or channel of a frame member.

4. A panel according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each stiffening member comprises a deformable plug for insertion in said inner section or channel of a frame member.

5. Awater-tight panel substantially as hereinbefore describedwith referenceto and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Water-tight panel This invention relates to water-tight panels forfitting to baths to form shower screens or flitting togetherto form shower cubicles. According to the present invention such a panel comprises a rigid frame and a sheet of water-proof fabric the edges of which surround or incorporate stiffening members extending the length of each edge and are received and retained in water-tight manner in internal channels which extend longitudinallyoftheindividual membersofsaid frame and open onto the innerorside edges of said frame members. Two forms of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawingsinwhich; Figure 1 is an elevational view of a complete panel; and Figures 2 to 6 are cross-sectioning taken on the lineA-Ain Figure 1 showing differentforms offixing for the fabric and different ways offurnishing offthe outer surface of the frame. The panel shown in Figure 1 comprises a sheet 1 of suitablytreated fabric the edges ofwhich are received and retained in water-tight fashion in the inner sections 2 of hollowframe members 3 which are each extruded from aluminium alloy to provide an inner section 2 an outer section 4 and a central section 5 and are secured together by mitred joints at the corners to form a frame 6 provided with hinges or other members 18 forfixing the panel to a wall orthe iike. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the sheet 1 has nylon rods 7 sewn into its edges which are received and retained by rubber gaskets 8 mounted in the sections 2 of the frame members 3 with the sheet passing through narrow slots 9 in the innermostwallsoftheframemembers. In the embodiments shown in Figures 3to 6the edgesofthesheetl are wrapped around plugs 10 of resilient or deformable material which are inserted in the sections 2 of the frame members 3 through slots 11 in the side walls (Figures 3 and 4) orslots 12 in the innermost walls (Figures 5 and 6). In each of the illustrated embodiments the outer section 4 of each frame member 3 is adapted to hold either a bubble rubber seal 13 for engagement with a bath orwall,oracoverstrip 14forfinishing offthe outer surface of the panel, said seal 13 or cover strip 14 having either an enlarged portion 15 which enters the section 4 or a resilient portion 16 which snaps into a slot 17 in the outermost surface oftheframe member. CLAIMS

1. A water-tight panel for use in forming a shower screen or cubicle, said panel comprising a rigid frame and a sheet ofwater-prooffabric the edges of which surround or incorporate stiffening members each extending the length of one edge and are received and retained in water-tight manner in internal channels which extend longitudinally of the individual members of said frame and open ontothe inner or side edges of said frame members forthe passage of said sheet.

2. A panel according to Claim 1, wherein each frame member is extruded from aluminium alloy to provide an inner hollow section or channel to receive an edge of said sheet, a central hollow section or channel and on outer hollow section or channel for anchoring a sealing member or outer cover.

3. Apanel accordingto Claim 1 or2,wherein each stiffening member comprises a nylon rod sewn into an edge of said sheet and cooperating with a gasket in said inner section or channel of a frame member.

4. A panel according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each stiffening member comprises a deformable plug for insertion in said inner section or channel of a frame member.

5. Awater-tight panel substantially as hereinbefore describedwith referenceto and as shown in the accompanying drawings.