GB2276409A

GB2276409A - Shower doors

Info

Publication number: GB2276409A
Application number: GB9305983A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antoni Harold Nikolas Gontar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-23
Filing date: 1993-03-23
Publication date: 1994-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-23
Also published as: GB2276409B; GB9305983D0

Abstract

The meeting edges of a door and a panel each have a magnetic strip 43 and one of either the door or panel has a magnetic strip in a side surface at an angle to that edge and the other of either the door or panel has a lip extending at an angle to the edge containing the magnetic strip and the lip also has a magnetic strip, the angle between the lip and its edge being complementary to the angle between the edge first mentioned and its side surface. The magnetic strips can be received within channels in the lip, a meeting edge and side surfaces of the panel and of the door. <IMAGE>

Description

SHOWER DOORS This invention concerns improvement in doors especially metal framed doors for showers.

Conventional shower doors are made up from glazed aluminium framed panels which close against a door frame or another aluminium frame panel either by pivoting or sliding. In one system doors are pivotably mounted on a wall without the need for a supporting frame. This type are particularly useful where it is desired to provide the maximum unhindered access to the shower area, for example where the shower will be used by the elderly or disabled.

Conventionally with this type of door a seal between two openable doors or a door and a fixed panel is provided between the closing edges of the two panels by providing each of these edges with an angled profile (typically 450C). On closing the door(s), the two angled edges contact each other.

A magnetic strip is provided in a channel in the angled edge such that on contacting two edges, the magnetic strips are attracted to each other and keep the panels in the closed position. Although of simple design, panels having these angled profile edges are not totally satisfactory in their water containing function since only slight deformation out of square of either panel will result in a gap between the edges through which water can pass.

Accordingly, there is a need for shower door panels which provide good water sealing properties.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a door system in which a door closes against an adjacent panel and contacting surfaces of the door and panel are provided with magnetic strips to retain the door in a closed position, wherein the meeting side edges of the door and panel each have a magnetic strip and one of either the door or panet has a magnetic strip in a side surface at an angle to that edge and the other of either the door or panel has a lip extending at an angle to the edge containing the magnetic strip and the lip also has a magnetic strip, the angle between the lip and its edge being complementary to the angle between the edge first mentioned and its side surface.

The use of two magnetic strips on each panel allows for a more secure closure, and the provision of two contacting surfaces at an angle to each other is an improved barrier to egress of water.

Usually the lip will be an extension of the adjacent side surface, either directly or as a strip cantilevered from and parallel to the side surface.

Most conveniently the lip is at right angles to its adjacent edge, and on the other panel the edge and the channelled side surface are at right angles.

In shower applications the edges of the door and adjacent panel will normally be shaped metal frame members, usually aluminum extrusions, supporting glazed panels. For most purposes the lip will be provided on the door frame member i.e. the moving panel.

In the preferred embodiment the same two different frame members can be used to form either a door system where the door and meeting panel are at right angles to each other or in line with each other. This will become more clearly understood from the detailed description and drawings.

In another aspect the invention provides a frame member for a door comprising an elongate beam whose transverse cross section has at one end a channel to receive a panel mounting gasket, and has at the other end a lip and edge surface at right angles to each other, the facing surfaces of the lip and edge being channelled for reception of a magnetic strip.

In a further aspect the invention provides a frame member for a panel meeting with a door, comprising an elongate beam whose transverse cross section has at one end a channel to receive a panel mounting gasket and at the other end a side surface and edge surface at right angles to each other and each channelled for reception of a magnetic strip.

Typically each frame member is an aluminium extrusion of rectangular box cross section. At one end of the box the side surfaces are extended and lipped to provide an open channel for the gasket that supports the glazing panel. At the other end of the box, in one embodiment, channels are formed in the end surface of the box and in one side surface adjacent the edge. The channels are lipped to retain magnetic strips, which in this embodiment are at 2700 to each other, facing outwardly on the external surface of a right angled corner.

In the other embodiment, at the end remote from the gasket channel, the end surface of the box is again channelled to receive a magnetic strip. A lip is cantilevered from one side surface of the box section parallel to the side surface, and contains another channel for a magnetic strip. As a result the strips are at 90 to each other, facing across the angle between the lip and the edge surface.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and 3 are transverse cross sections through frame members for door and fixed panel respectively, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame member of Fig. 1, Figs. 4 and 5 show in transverse cross section alternative door closure configurations using the frame members of Figs.

1 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross of a modified form of the frame member of Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the use of a modified form of the frame member of Fig. 2 in alternative closure configurations, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a transverse cross section through a frame member 1 intended primarily for use as the swinging edge of a door frame. The frame member is extruded from aluminium and is built around a box section 2 having side surfaces 3, 4 and end surfaces 5, 6. In the box section are conventional ribs 7 and part-circular channels 8 for screw fixings. At one end 5 of the box section, the side surfaces 3 and 4 are extended and turned over to define a partly closed channel 9. The channel 9 is for reception of a gasket to retain the edge of a plastics or glass glazing panel.

At the other end 6 of the box section, the end surface 6 incorporates a lipped channel 10, intended for reception of a magnetic sealing strip. Extending from the side surface 3, parallel to the side surface 3 and at right angles to the edge surface 6, is a lip or flange 11. The flange 11 is also formed with a lipped channel 12 for reception of a magnetic sealing strip. Therefore sealing strips in channels 10, 12 face each other across a 900 angle.

The frame member 1 as a whole is an elongate beam as seen more clearly in the perspective view of Figure 2. The channels 9, 10 and 12 extend longitudinally along the length of the frame member.

Fig. 3 shows a frame member 20 intended primarily for the edge of a fixed panel which will engage the swinging edge of a door panel. The frame member 20 is of generally similar construction to frame member 1 with respect to the main box section and channel for a glazing gasket. Thus parts 22-30 are generally equivalent to parts 2 - 10. However there is -no equivalent to flange 11. Instead in the surface of side 23 adjacent edge surface 26 there is formed a lipped channel 33 for reception of a magnetic sealing strip. Therefore sealing strips in channels 30, 33 face away from each other on the external surfaces of a right angle i.e. at 270"C angle.

The frame members are formed into frames conventionally, which may by forming mitred joints are using square corner pieces. A door panel will normally have three sides of a plain box section and the swinging edge of the door formed from a section as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The fixed panel will normally have the door meeting edge made of a section as shown in Figure 3 with a plain box section forming the other three sides.

Panels made using the frame members 1 and 20 in this way can be used in a shower enclosure in two configurations as shown in figures 4 and 5. In these figures, glazing gaskets 41 and glazing panels 42 are retained by channels 9 and 29. Channels 10, 12, 30, 33 contain magnetic sealing strips 43. The strips are arranged so as to be of opposite polarity in members 1 and 20. Also the sealing strips 43 are a loose fit in their reception channels so that they float. This allows them to move towards each other as the frame members 1, 20 come into contact and ensures a secure seal is effected.

Fig. 4 shows the configuration where door and fixed panel are in line when closed. The movement of the door edge towards and away from the fixed panel is shown by the arrow.

In Fig. 5 the door and fixed panel are at right angles when closed, so that the closure joint is also the corner of a shower enclosure. Again the movement of the door is shown by the arrows.

The frame member 1 may be adapted as shown in Figure 6 by providing an extra channel (and sealing strip) corresponding to channel 33 in frame member 20. This allows the same frame member to be used on the meeting edges of both door and fixed panel in the in-line configuration to provide an extra secure closure.

in another alternative form a small lip 44 may be formed at the junction of edge surface 26 and side surface 24 on frame member 20. This allows the frame member to form joints in both configurations as shown respectively in Figs. 7 and 8.

Whilst the invention has been described primarily in terms of glazed panels, the described configuration of sealing strips would be equally effective in solid doors, if desired.

Additionally whilst shower doors are generally glazed with transparent or translucent sheets of plastics or safety glass, opaque panels may also be used in the same glazing system.

Also whilst the function of panels using frame member 1 has been indicated as doors, with frame member 20 being part of a fixed panel, these functions can be reversed if an alternative closing configuration is required. Further, the fixed panels" may be another door panel which is moved to a closed position prior to another door and so effectively becomes a fixed panel.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A door system in which a door closes against an adjacent panel and contacting surfaces of the door and panel are provided with magnetic strips to retain the door in a closed position, wherein the meeting side edges of the door and panel each have a magnetic strip and one of either the door or panel has a magnetic strip in a side surface at an angle to that edge and the other of either the door or panel has a lip extending at an angle to the edge containing the magnetic strip and the lip also has a magnetic strip, the angle between the lip and its edge being complementary to the angle between the edge first mentioned and its side surface.

2. A frame member for a door, comprising an elongate beam whose transverse cross section has at one end a channel to receive a panel mounting gasket, and has at the other end a lip and edge surface at right angles to each other, the facing surfaces of the lip and edge being channelled for reception of a magnetic strip.

3. A frame member for a panel meeting with a door, comprising an elongate beam whose transverse cross section has at one end a channel to receive a panel mounting gasket and at the other end a side surface and edge surface at right angles to each other and each channelled for reception of a magnetic strip.