GB2261165A

GB2261165A - Cradle support for baths

Info

Publication number: GB2261165A
Application number: GB9211732A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vanni Artoni
Original assignee: OCEAN SpA
Current assignee: OCEAN SpA
Priority date: 1991-11-05
Filing date: 1992-06-03
Publication date: 1993-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-03
Also published as: IT1251759B; GB9211732D0; FR2683137A1; FR2683137B1; GB2261165B; ITMI912927A1; ITMI912927A0

Abstract

A device for supporting bathtubs of the type comprising a body (2) provided upperly with a usual hollow portion defined by side (7, 8) and end (9) walls terminating in a flanged edge (7A, 8A) which is bent to define a substantially right-angled under-edge, said device comprising at least one saddle element to be positioned below the bathtub body so as to embrace it, said element consisting of a body (15) which at its opposing ends comprises coupling means arranged to cooperate with the right-angled under-edge of the edges of opposing walls of the bathtub so as to fix the saddle element to this latter. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING BATHTUBS WHICH FACILITATES THEIR INSTALLATION OR THEIR POSITIONING ON THE FLOOR This invention relates to a device for supporting bathtubs during their installation or their positioning on the floor, such bathtubs generally being of enamelled steel and comprising a body provided upperly with a usual hollow portion defined by side and end walls terminating in a flanged edge which is bent lowerly to define an under-edge with a substantially right-angled end.

To position bathtubs of this type on the floor it is usual to use a saddle element embracing a portion of the lower part of the bathtub and comprising support feet.

Two saddle elements or saddles are generally associated with the bathtub and are spaced apart along said lower part.

In one known construction, each saddle is provided with localized biadhesive surfaces, by which the bathtub is secured. The saddle embraces only that lower part of the bathtub body corresponding to the bottom of the upper hollow part.

Such a construction requires perfect alignment to be achieved between each saddle and the bathtub so that the biadhesive surfaces of said saddles cooperate completely with the bathtub.

This operation therefore requires time and increases the overall cost of positioning the bathtub on the floor.

In addition, with the passage of time each biadhesive surface loses its characteristics with the result that problems can arise in the fixing between the support feet (carried by each saddle) and the bathtub.

In a further construction, the bathtub is provided on the underneath of its body with projecting members comprising seats to which the saddles carrying the feet are screwed.

This known construction has various drawbacks.

Firstly, the members with the threaded seats have to be joined to the bathtub to enable the saddles to be fixed. This involves a certain time and cost. In addition, the joining procedure (generally involving welding) can result in the removal of enamel from the inner part of the hollow portion of the bathtub or from the base of this inner part, due to the normal mechanical stresses generated at the welding points and when tightening the screws into their seats. Defects then arise in the bathtub, leading to obvious problems.

Again, if during the normal installation of the bathtub said projecting members accidentally strike the floor they can again cause removal of enamel from the bathtub, with the aforesaid problems.

Finally, for transporting a bathtub provided with said members, those regions of the bathtub with which said members are associated have to be provided with additional packing.

Consequently a further operation is required on the bathtub subsequent to fixing the said members, hence increasing the total cost of the final product (bathtub) ready for installation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for installing the bathtub or positioning it on the floor, which is more simple than the known constructions and can be applied more quickly to the bathtub than these latter.

A further object is to provide a device of the aforesaid type which in fixing it to the bathtub does not produce any mechanical stressing thereof which could damage its structure and/or its coating or enamel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is reliable in use and is of low cost.

These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a device applied to a bathtub of the aforesaid type, characterised by comprising at least one saddle element to be positioned below the bathtub body so as to embrace this latter from the edge of a first side wall thereof to the edge of the second side wall opposite the first1 said element consisting of a body which at its opposing ends comprises coupling means arranged to cooperate with the right-angled under-edge of the edges of said first and second walls, so as to fix the saddle element to the bathtub.

The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 shows a bathtub with which the device of the invention is associated; Figure 2 is a partial section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a wall of the device according to the invention; Figure 4 is a front view of the part shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a view from below of a bathtub with which the device of the invention is associated; and Figure 7 is a partly sectional schematic view of a modification of the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, the bathtub with which the device of the invention is associated is indicated overall by 1 and comprises a body 2 with a concave upper part 3 (defining the tub containing the wash water), a lower part 4 and side surfaces 6. The upper part or tub 3 has a base 5 bounded by side walls 7 and 8 and by end walls 9 and 10. In one of these latter there is provided a usual element 11 for opening and closing a waste outlet in said base 5.

The walls 7, 8, 9 and 10 terminate with respective flanged edges 7A1 8A, 9A and lOA having a lower part 13 bent at a right angle to define respective under-edges 7B, 8B, 9B and 10B.

The device of the invention for positioning the bathtub 1 on the floor is arranged in correspondence with the walls 7 and 8 and with the base 5 of the tub 3.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, said device comprises a body 15 having three portions 16, 17, 18 arranged to lie in correspondence with the walls 7, 8 and the base 5 respectively.

The portions 16 and 17 have a first end 20 which is bent substantially to L-shape to a central part 22 and is inserted into the respective under-edge 7B and 8B to cooperate with the corresponding lower part 13 of each edge 7A and 8A.

Each portion 16 and 17 is of broken-line configuration and comprises a part 21, substantially intermediate to the part 22, and arranged to make contact with the surface 6 of the body 2 of the bathtub 1.

Each portion 16, 17, 18 also comprises a longitudinal stiffening rib 25 extending preferably along the entire length of said portions. The portions 16 and 17 also have their other end 26 bent substantially at a right angle to the central part 22 and comprising an elongate hole or slot 27 (see Figures 5 and 6).

The hole or slot 27 is arranged to cooperate with a fixing member such as a screw 28 passing through a hole 30 provided in that end 31 of the portion 18 close to the end 26 of said portion 16 or 17.

The portion 18 comprises a central part 33 arranged to cooperate with the lower part 4 of the body 2 and terminating at its opposing ends with said parts 31. The central part 30 is arched to give the portion 18 a substantially leaf-spring shape, so increasing its flexibility.

Said central part 30 also carries pads 38 which cooperate directly with the bathtub 1. These pads, which are advantageously of a soft material such as felt, enable the portion 18 to be spaced from the body 2 of the bathtub and allow it to press against said body without causing any rubbing (particularly while fixing the device of the invention to the bathtub) which could lead to the removal of enamel from the bathtub.

The portion 18 also comprises seats 40 for fixing usual feet 41 by which the bathtub 1 rests on the floor.

It will now be assumed that the bathtub 1 is to be positioned on the floor.

To achieve this, with the bathtub inverted with respect to its position of use, the portions 16 and 17 are firstly associated with the surface 6 of the bathtub taking care to insert their ends 20 within the under-edges 7B and 8B. Said ends 20 rest against the bent part 13 of the edges 7A and 8A.

Having done this said portions are laid against the surface 6.

The portion 18 is then positioned on the base 4 and is fixed to the portions 16 and 17 by the screws 28. These screws cooperate with the slots 27, so enabling the position of each portion 16, 17 and 18 to be adjusted relative to the bathtub 1.

The portions 16 and 17 hence rest with their parts 21 against the body 2 of the bathtub.

The presence of the holes or slots 27 also enables standard-size portions 16, 17 and 18 to be fitted to bathtubs of different dimensions. This is because the relative position of these portions can be adjusted by differently positioning the fixing screws 28 within the relative slots 27.

One embodiment of the invention has been described. However other embodiments thereof are possible.

In one of these the body 15 of the device according to the invention is in one piece and has its ends shaped as the ends 20 of the described figures, to cooperate with the under-edges 7B, 83 of the bathtub.

In this case the body 15 is associated with the body 2 of the bathtub to connect together the edges 7 and 8 of this latter. The dimensions of the body 15 must match those of the body 2 of the bathtub to which it is to be connected.

In a further embodiment, the body 15 of the device of the invention comprises two portions which can be moved relative to each other, for example telescopically, and locked in suitable mutual positions according to the dimensions of the bathtub to which they are to be connected.

This embodiment is shown in Figure 7, in which parts corresponding to those of Figures 1 to 6 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure under examination, the body 15 comprises two portions 60 and 65, the latter comprising a seat 66 for slidingly receiving the former portion.

A screw (or locking member such as a key or the like) 67 cooperates with opposing elongate holes 68 and 69 provided in the portion 65 and with holes 70 provided in the portion 60, or with at least one seat provided in this latter.

Having inserted this latter portion into the seat 66, the two portions are locked together by the screw 67 when the parts 21 of said portions rest against the body 2 of the bathtub 1.

This device can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the bathtub 1.

Other embodiments equivalent to those described are possible and are to be considered as falling within the scope of the present document.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A device for supporting bathtubs during their installation or their positioning on the floor, said bathtubs being generally of enamelled steel and comprising a body provided upperly with a usual hollow portion defined by side and end walls terminating in a flanged edge which is bent lowerly to define an under-edge with a substantially right-angled end, characterised by comprising at least one saddle element to be positioned below the bathtub body (2) so as to embrace this latter from the edge (7A) of a first side wall thereof to the edge (8A) of the second side wall opposite the first, said element consisting of a body (15) which at its opposing ends comprises coupling means (20) arranged to cooperate with the right-angled under-edge (7B, 8B) of the edges of said first and second walls, so as to fix the saddle element to the bathtub (1).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the coupling means are substantially L-shaped end parts arranged to cooperate with lower bent parts (13) of the respective under-edges (7B, 8B).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the body (15) comprises ribbed (at 21) portions (16, 17, 18), two of said portions (16, 17) comprising projecting parts (21), to be arranged in correspondence with lateral surfaces (6) of the body (2) of the bathtub (1) and with a lower part (4) of this latter.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the body (15) is formed in one piece.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the body (15) is formed in two pieces (60, 65) which can be moved relative to each other and locked in positions such that said body (15) embraces the bathtub (1), adjustment means (67) being provided to enable said parts (60, 65) to be locked in different mutual positions.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that a first part (65) comprises a seat (66) within which the second part (60) can slide and be locked, at least one locking member (67) being insertable into said seat (66) and into at least one seat (70) provided in said second part (60) to enable said parts to be fixed together and their mutual position adjusted.

7. A device as claimed in claims 1 and 3, characterised in that the body (15) comprises three mutually independent parts defining the portions (16, 17, 18) to be positioned in correspondence with the lateral surfaces of the body (2) of the bathtub (1) and with the base surface (4), fixing means (28) being provided to adjustably fix said portions together.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the two portions (16, 17) are to be arranged in correspondence with the lateral surfaces (6) of the bathtub (1) and comprise first ends (20) to cooperate with the under-edges (7B, 8B) of this latter, each of said portions comprising a second end (26) bent with respect to a central part (22) and comprising a seat (27) for receiving a fixing member (28) associated with a seat (30) in a corresponding end (31) of the portion (18) which is to be arranged in correspondence with the lower part (4) of the bathtub body (2).

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that at least one of the seats (27, 30) provided in the cooperating ends (26, 31) of the lateral portions (16, 17) and of the portion (18) arranged in correspondence with the lower part (4) of the bathtub is an elongate hole.

10. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the portion (18) to be arranged in correspondence with the lower part (4) of the bathtub (1) is shaped as a leaf-spring.

11. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the portion (18) to be arranged in correspondence with the lower part (4) of the bathtub (1) carries resting elements (38) arranged to cooperate with said bathtub, and support feet (41) associated with respective seats (40).

12. A device for supporting bathtubs during their installation or their positioning on the floor, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.