GB2270836A

GB2270836A - Shower tray

Info

Publication number: GB2270836A
Application number: GB9319881A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antoni Harold Nikolas Gontar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-29
Filing date: 1993-09-27
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-27
Also published as: GB9319881D0; GB2270836B; GB9220511D0

Abstract

A shower tray having a shower floor area (1) and provided with an extended, oversized, rim (2c, 2d) on one or more sides of the shower floor area, the extended rims being capable of being trimmed prior to installation of the tray such that the shower area and trimmed extended rim fits the area available. There is also described a method for installing a shower tray to replace a bath located in a bathroom, which method comprises removing the bath and any associated housing; providing a shower tray unit as described above having an area greater than that of the floor area covered by the bath and any housing; trimming the extended edges of the shower tray unit such that the area of the shower tray matches the area vacated by the bath and any housing; and laying the trimmed shower tray in the vacated area. <IMAGE>

Description

SHOWER TRAY The present invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to shower trays, particularly shower trays for use by the disabled.

Conventionally, shower trays have a substantially square shape (often 60 x 60 cm) with a raised rim (in the order of 10 - 20 cm high). This configuration can result in problems for disabled persons who may not be able to step over the high rim and for whom the area of the tray is too small to allow for sufficient movement for adequate cleansing.

Clearly, those person confined to a wheelchair cannot gain access at all to a shower in such trays.

It is known to provide shower trays for disabled persons in which the floor of the tray is inclined so it slopes gently from the top of the rim on a first side towards the base of the rim on the opposite side. A small ramp provided outside the tray adjacent the first side allows a wheelchair to enter the shower tray.

Frequently showers for disabled must be installed in a bathroom in a place of the existing bath. The difference between the areas of the bath and the shower tray results in an unsightly and potentially unhygienic area of unprotected floor boards or concrete adjacent the shower tray. The size of the "waste" area is unpredictable due to varying sizes of bath and installation configurations. On the other hand it is desirable for the shower tray to be of a "standard" size for ease of manufacture and for cooperation with other "standard" shower fittings. Therefore the waste area must be tiled over or an attempt made to match the floor covering in the rest of the bathroom.

The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a shower tray having a "standard" shower floor area but having an oversized rim on one or more sides. The oversized rim(s) can be trimmed before installation so that the shower tray and extended rim fits the area available.

Typically the shower tray has a rectangu.lar floor area surrounded by a rim, and the rim is extended on two adjacent sides relative to the rim on the other two sides. The floor area may be square or have two unequal sides. One of the extended rims, preferably on the shorter side if the floor is not square, may be extended so that the unit has an overall length equivalent to the length of the largest conventional bath, and the other extended rim extends so that the unit has the width of the widest conventional bath.

Preferably, for disabled use, the shower tray has a rectangular shower floor area surrounded by a rim and has a longer side of the floor level with the rim on one side of the tray with the floor sloping downwardly towards the base of the rim on the opposite side of the tray. The rim adjacent the other longer side of the floor and adjacent one shorter side is extended relative to the rim width on the other shorter side.

Preferably the rims are extended so that the area of the unit as a whole is equivalent to the maximum expected area of a conventional bath fitting. Then the shower tray unit may simply replace an existing bath, either directly or after trimming the extended edges.

The invention also provides a method for installing a shower tray to replace a bath located in a bathroom, which comprises removing the bath and any associated housing, providing a shower tray unit as described above having an area greater that the floor area covered by the bath and any housing, trimming the extended edges of the shower tray unit so that the area of the shower tray unit matches the area vacated by the bath and housing, and laying the trimmed shower tray in the vacated area.

For use by the disabled the shower tray floor will normally be non-square and of a length capable of receiving a wheelchair and, if needed, a helper.

In order to pass over the rim bordering the highest part of the sloping floor, a ramp will usually be provided, which may formed integrally with the rim or as a separate member.

In an alternative embodiment, the tray may be recessed into the floor such that the rim is flush with the surrounding floor.

The floor of the shower tray will either be apertured for drain means or contain a shallow well for location of a drainage pump.

Suitably, the shower tray is moulded from plastics material or is fabricated from resin coated glass fibre. Preferably, anti-slip portions are provided on the upper surfaces of the shower tray.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a shower tray unit in accordance with the present invention, together with a separate ramD portion; Fig. 2 illustrates in a perspective view, installation of a shower tray unit of the present invention to fit an available space; and Fig. 3 shows a sectional view on line A-A of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the shower tray of the present invention comprising a floor area shown generally at 1 and surrounding rims 2a,b,c,d for retaining the water in the shower tray. The surface of the floor 1 is inclined (see Fig. 3) from a position level with rim 2a (which will be the front of the finally installed shower unit) to a position at the base of rim 2c, so as to direct the flow of water towards a drain means 3. Depending on the location, the drain means may be an aperture for access to a conventional under-floor drain trap, or a well for location of the filter cartridge of an above-floor drain pump. In addition, channels 4 in the rims direct water into the floor area. A ramp 10 may also be provided to enable access to a person in a wheelchair. Anti-slip surfaces 5 are provided on the upper surfaces.The rims 2c,d are of extended width relative to the rims 2a,b.

When a pre-existing bath is removed and replaced by a conventional shower tray a large space remains, usually of unprotected floor boards or concrete flooring. It is not usually possible to obtain small pieces of floor covering, carpeting, linoleum or the like, which match existing covering. Either replacement of the floor covering of the whole room is require, or it will be necessary to lay tiles to fill the excess area.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the shower tray unit may be cut to a required size by trimming the extended rims 2c,d. Thus if the shower tray is manufactured such that its length and width dimensions, by virtue of the extended rims, are the same as those of the largest standard bath, the shower tray unit can be used as a direct replacement for that bath or can be trimmed to exactly fit into the area vacated by a smaller bath. Similarly the tray can be trimmed to allow for pipes rising up an adjacent wall.

After trimming, the extended rims of the tray may need additional structural support. The rim may be supported by a wooden beam 11, as shown in Fig. 3.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A shower tray having a shower floor area and provided with an extended, oversized, rim on one or more sides of the shower floor area, the extended rims being capable of being trimmed prior to installation of the tray such that the shower area and trimmed extended rim fits the area available.

2. A shower tray according to Claim 1 provided with an extended rim on two adjacent sides.

3. A shower tray according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the shower floor area is level with the extended rim on one side of the tray and slopes downwardly towards the base of a non-extended rim on the opposite side of the tray.

4. A shower tray substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A method for installing a shower tray to replace a bath located in a bathroom, which method comprises removing the bath and any associated housing; providing a shower tray unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 having an area greater than that of the floor area covered by the bath and any housing; trimming the extended edges of the shower tray unit such that the area of the shower tray matches the area vacated by the bath and any housing; and laying the trimmed shower tray in the vacated area.

6. A method for installing a shower tray substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying Figure 2.