GB2236247A

GB2236247A - Trim for sanitary appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2236247A
Application number: GB8921677A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stinton Morris; Trevor James Keirle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-26
Filing date: 1989-09-26
Publication date: 1991-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-26
Also published as: GB2236247B; GB8921677D0

Abstract

Trim for sanitary appliances e.g. wash basin, bidet, or W.C. comprises a member 16, which in use is arranged on one side of the appliance to at least partly conceal a gap between the appliance and wall 13. The trim member may be secured at one end to a batten 23 on the wall by means of adhesive B and to an abutment portion 21 on the appliance by means of adhesive C, and may be provided with a wood block 24 to prevent movement of the trim member away from the wall. The trim may also be used with other appliances e.g. cookers and central heating appliances. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Trim Means.

Description of Invention This invention relates to an apparatus installed against a wall with a gap between the apparatus and the wall.

An example of such apparatus is an item of sanitary ware, such as wash-basin, supported on a pedestal.There is a gap between the pedestal and the wall against which the wash basin is installed and thus water supply and waste pipes disposed between the pedestal and the wall are visible from the side.A similar problem arises with other items of sanitary ware which are supported on a pedestal such as a bidet or a w.c.basin and analogous problems arise with other apparatus installed with a gap against a wall.

According to the invention we provide an installation comprising an apparatus installed against a wall with a gap between the apparatus and the wall, wherein a trim means is positioned so as to conceal the gap, the trim means comprising at least one trim member, disposed on one side of the apparatus, abutment means fixed relative to the apparatus and comprising a portion of the apparatus and an abutment provided on the wall, means cooperating between the abutment means and the trim member to secure the trim member in position.

The apparatus may be a pedestal on which an item of sanitary ware is supported.

The item of sanitary ware may comprise a wash basin, bidet or w.c.

basin.

The trim member may comprise a generally rectangular relatively rigid panel.

The trim member may be made of a synthetic plastics material.

The means which co-operate between the abutment means and the trim member may comprise an adhesive means.

The abutment provided on the wall may achieve a point contact with the trim member, in which case the adhesive may be provided at the point contact.

Alternatively the abutment may achieve a line contact with the trim member in which case adhesive may be provided along the line of contact.

The portion of the apparatus which abuts the trim means, may do so along a line of contact, again with adhesive provided along the line of contact.

In each case where the adhesive is provided along a line of contact, the adhesive may comprise a bead of adhesive or double sided adhesive coated strip of material.

The trim member may be provided with abutment means to engage the apparatus to prevent movement of the trim member in a direction away from the wall.

The trim member may comprise a transverse part at the upper end thereof to provide a trim where the gap is open to view from the top of the apparatus.

The abutment provided on the wall may comprise a batten which is fixed to the wall by adhesive, or fastener means.

A second trim member may be disposed on the other side of the apparatus and secured in position similarly to the first trim member.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a trim means for concealing the gap between an apparatus and a wall comprising a trim member adapted for use in an installation according to the first aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a front view of a pedestal-supported wash basin embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is a side view of the wash basin of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale; FIGURE 4 is a cross-section similar to that of Figure 3 but of a modification of the invention; FIGURE 5 is a diagramatic perspectic view of a bidet embodying the invention, FIGURE 6 is a diagramatic perspective view of a w.c. embodying the invention and FIGURE 7 is a diagramatic crass-section taken through a modification of the bidet shown in Figure 5 on a section corresponding to the section 7-7 shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the Figures I to 3 a conventional pedestol-supported wash basin is indicated at 10 and comprises a wash basin 11 supported on a pedestal 12. The wash basin is installed against a wall 13 and there is a gap indicated at 14 between the wall 13 and the rear surface 15 of the pedestal.

The gap 14 is unsightly and permits sight of the water feed and waste pipes which are disposed behind the pedestal.

Whilst the pedestal 12 conceals these pipes from the front of the wash basin it does not conceol them from the sides.

In accordance with the invention, a trim means 16 is provided which conceals the gap 14. The trim means ló comprises two trim members 17, one disposed on one side of the pedestal and the other disposed on the other side thereof.

The trim members 17 each comprise a relatively rigid generally rectangular panel of synthetic plastics material, such as high impact polystyrene, although may be made of any other suitable material.

Battens 23 of wood extend across the wall 13 behind the pedestal 12 and are fixed to the wall 13 by adhesive as indicated at A, or alternatively or additionally by fasteners, as indicated at F, as desired.

In this example, the battens 23 extend generally horizontally, and each end of each batten 23 provides an abutment of an abutment means, and is abutted by the respective trim member 17. At the points of contact, a blob of adhesive is applied as indicated at B which co-operates between the abutments 23 and the trim members 17 to secure the members 17 in position.

The abutment means also comprises respective side abutment portions 21 of the pedestal 12. Adhesive is provided along the lines of contact between the members 17 and the respective side portions 21 of the pedestal 12, as indicated at C.

In an alternative arrangement, the bottens 23 could extend upright, one at either side of the pedestal 12, in which case, adhesive may be applied along lines of contact between the members 17 and the battens 23, or at least where they contact.

Where the adhesive extends along a line of contact, the adhesive may conveniently be in the form of a bead of adhesive, or a strip of material which is coated on both sides with adhesive. In each case, the adhesive cooperates between the trim members 17 and the abutment means to secure the trim members 17 in position.

The trim members are each provided with a small block of wood 24 adjacent their mid points to engage the rear surface 15 of the pedestal 12 to prevent movement of the trim members 17 away from the wall 13.

The members 17 are dimensioned and coloured so as to match the basin and pedestal 11, 12 and, if necessary, the top edges 25 of the panels 17 may be cut, on site, to suit the contour of the underside of the basin 11.

Referring now to Figure 4, a modification is illustrated in which the same reference numerals have been used for parts corresponding to parts shown in Figures I to 3. The only difference between the embodiment shown in Figures I to 3 and the modification shown in Figure 4 is in the shape of the pedestal, which in Figure 4 is of generally rectangular channel configuration, whereas in Figure 3 it is of generally V-channel configuration.

In the present example, the trim members 17 have a bevelled front edge as shown at 26 in figure 3 but are planar elsewhere. If desired, however, the member 17 may be of any desired configuration or pattern as may be considered to be aesthetically pleasing. For example, the members 17 may comprise two generally planar portions interconnected by an inclined portion so that the planar portions are slightly off-set, the inclined portion being disposed approximately at the mid point of the width of the members 17.

In use, the widest gap between the wall 13 and the rear 15 of the pedestal 12 is measured and a minimum overlap allowance of lOmm is added on. The panels 17 are then marked out to this size, measuring from the bevelled edge 26 and the panel is cut to size.

If a skirting board is fitted, an appropriate profile is cut out of the panel as indicated at 27 in Figure 2.

The panels 17 are then offered in turn to the pedestal 12 and the inside of each panel is marked along the line of the rear of the pedestal 15 near to the mid position height, and the wall is marked at the inside face of the panel 17 approximately 150mum to 200mm from the top to the bottom.

A batten is then cut to produce two pieces 23 generally equal in lenath to the horizontal distance between the upper and lower pairs of marks on the wall and are fixed in position using the fasteners F, and/or blobs of adhesive A, beads of adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape, or of course any other suitable fixing means.

Two short lengths of wooden strip, approximately 20mm, are then fixed as blocks 24 horizontally with double-sided tape or other means to the inwardly facing side of each panel 17 so as to terminate at the mark made on the panel and to extend rearwardly therefrom.

The adhesive blobs or strips B and C are then applied and the trim members 17 are offered up to the abutment means.

If desired, the pedestal 12 may be separate from, as is usual, or be integral with the wash basin 11.

The trim means described hereinbefore may be used with other apparatus installed against a wall with a gap therebetween. Examples of other items of sanitary ware are a bidet 28 or w.c.basin 29 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Of course, in these cases, the pedestals are much shorter than that shown in Figures 1 to 4 and the pedestal may be integral with, as is usual, or separate from, the bidet 28 or w.c.basin 29.

In the case of the bidet 28, the trim members 17 may each have a horizontal transverse part as shown at 30 in Figure 5 which mav be integral with the upper ends of the trim members 17.

In a modification, if desired the transverse parts 3() may be separate from and connectable to the trim members 17. In this case the sPacing of the trim members may be varied to suit any particular application and the transverse part be selected or cut to, a suitable length, and a unitary transverse part 30 may be provided with downwardly extending flanqes at opposite sides which are connected to the trim members by.for example,self tapping screws as shown in Figure 7.

It will be appreciated that in all instances it is not essential to hide the gap 14 at both sides of the pedestal, in which case utilising the present invention, the trim means may only comprise a single trim member 17 disposed at one side of the pedestal 12 only, which single member 17 may, where appropriate, have a transverse part 30 which extends across the entire width of the gap 14.

If desired, instead of adhesive, any other means which co-operates between the abutment means and the trim means may be provided to secure the trim means in position.

The trim means may be used with other apparatus even when not supported on a pedestal, for example, a gas or electric cookinq applicance, or a gas, oil or solid fuel central heating appliance.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the following claims or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropricte, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

An An installation comprising an apparatus installed aaainst a NaXl with a gap between the apparatus and the wall, wherein a trim means is positioned so as to conceal, or partially conceal, the gap, the trim means comprising at ieast one trim member, disposed on one sidle of the apparatus abutment means fixed relative to the apparatus and comprising a portion of the apparatus and an abutment provided on the wall, means co-operating between the abutment means and the trim member to secure the trim member in position.
2. An installation according to Claim I wherein the apparatus is a pedestal on which an item of sanitary ware is supported.
3. An installation according to Claim 2 wherein the item of sanitary ware comprises a wash basin, bidet or w.c.basin.
4. An installation according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the trim member comprises a generally rectangular relativelv rigid pane.
5. An installaton according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the trim membe is made of a synthetic plastics material.
An An installation according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the means which co-operate between the abutment means and the trim member comprises an adhesive means.
7. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutment provided on the wall achieves a point contact with the trim member.
8. An installation according to claim 7 where appendant to claim 6 wherein adhesive is provided at the point contact of the trim member and the abutment.
9. An installation according to any one of claims I to ó wherein the abutment provided on the wall achieves a line contact with the trim member.
10. An installation according to claim 9 where appendant to claim 6 wherein adhesive is provided along the line contact of the trim member and the abutment.
11. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the portion of the apparatus abuts the trim remains along a line of contact.
12. An installation according to claim li where appendant to claim 6 wherein adhesive is provided along the line of contact of the trim member and the portion of the apparatus.
13. An installation according to claim 10 or claim 12 wherein the adhesive provided along the or each line of contact comprises a bead of adhesive or double sided adhesive coated strip of material.
14. An installation according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the trim member is provided with abutment means to engage the apparatus to prevent movement of the trim member in a direction away from the wall.
15. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the trim member comprises a transverse part at the upper end thereof to provide a trim where the gap is open to view from above the apparatus.
16. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the abutment provided on the wall comprises a batten which is fixed to the wall.
17. An installation according to claim ló wherein the batten is fixed to the wall by adhesive.
18. An installation according to claim 16 wherein the batten is fixed to the wall by fastener means.
19. An installation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the trim means comprises a second trim member disposed on the other side of the apparatus, and a further abutment means is fixed relative to the apparatus and comprises a further portion of the apparatus and an abutment provided on the wall, there being further means co-operating between the further abutment means and the second trim member to secure the second trim member in position.
20. An installation according to claim 19 wherein the further co-operating means comprises an adhesive means.
21. An installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures I to 3 or Figure 4 or Figure 5 or Figure 6 or Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings
22. A trim means for concealing the gap between an apparatus and a wall comprising a trim member adapted for use in an installation according to any one of the preceding claims.
23. A trim means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures I to 3 or figure 4 or figure 5 or figure ó or figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.