GB2297904A

GB2297904A - Shower tray

Info

Publication number: GB2297904A
Application number: GB9502908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Ross Read
Original assignee: Nordic Saunas Ltd
Current assignee: Nordic Saunas Ltd
Priority date: 1995-02-15
Filing date: 1995-02-15
Publication date: 1996-08-21
Also published as: GB9502908D0

Abstract

A shower tray 10 comprises a recessed standing area 11 with a drainage hole 13, and a raised surround portion 15. In portion 15 is a circular access aperture 18 having an upstanding side wall 19. The aperture is closed off by a removable closure cap 20 and annular seal member 24. The aperture 18 allows access to below the shower tray for installation and maintenance.

Description

A SHOWER TRAY This invention relates to shower trays.

According to the present invention there is provided a shower tray having a recessed area defined by upstanding side walls which recessed area has a drainage hole, said shower tray providing an aperture having a removable access member to close off the aperture.

Preferably sealing means is provided between the aperture and the closure member so as to sealingly close off the aperture. In preferred arrangements the aperture is formed in one of the side walls of the shower tray and the side walls extend upwardly from the recessed area and then outwardly at their highest point to form a surround portion. Conveniently said aperture is provided in said surround.

In some embodiments said drainage hole is formed at the edge of the recessed area generally adjacent the aperture.

A preferred feature is that the aperture has upstanding walls topped with a sealing material.

Preferably the sealing material is in the form of a boot. In some arrangements the closure member is in the form of a cap having a continuous, outwardly extending side wall which covers the upstanding wall of the aperture. Ideally the cap has projections which are a push fit in the aperture thereby to retain the closure members.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a shower tray according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the shower tray of figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of the shower tray of figure 1, Figure 4 is a section on line IV-IV of figure 1.

In the drawings there is shown a shower tray 10 having a standing area 11 on which the user stands.

Surrounding this area 11 is a drainage gully 12 in which is provided a drainage hole 13. The drainage hole 13 will in use be connected to a waste pipe and trap so as to allow waste water to flow away.

Surrounding the gully 12 are upstanding side walls 14 which rise up from the standing area ll/gully 12 such that the standing area 11/gully 12 is effectively a recessed area. At the top of the side walls 14, they extend outwardly to define a surround portion 15 incorporating in this arrangement a raised corner area 16 adjacent the drainage hole 13. The side walls then extend downwardly to create a plinth area which surrounds the underside of the shower tray. In use the shower tray will be supported by a known type of frame arrangement 17.

In the corner area 16 there is provided a generally circular access aperture 18 which is defined by an upwardly extending circular wall 19. The aperture 18 has a removable closure cap 20 having a cover portion 21 and a peripheral downwardly extending side wall 22. A cylindrical wall portion 23 depends from the cover portion 21 and is a push fit inside the circular wall 19 of the aperture 18, which circular wall 19 has a peripheral seal member 24 in the form of a boot at its top for sealingly engaging the closure cap 20.

The aperture 18 allows access to the space below the shower tray 10. This access is particularly useful during installation because the tray 10 can be fitted in its correct location and then the waste pipe connections can be made. Once these connections have been made then the closure cap 20 is applied. The provision of the seal member 24 is optional, but advantageous in that water cannot escape via the access aperture 18. The aperture 18 also allows access for future repairs and/or maintenance.

The level of area 16 being lower than level of area 15 facilitates drainage. It also allows the cap 21 to sit comfortably on the circular wall 19 without cap 21 projecting too high above the surround portion 15. This may be necessary for example so that an inwardly opening shower door does not strike the cap 21, should the shower door be placed adjacent to cap 21.

The circular wall 19 preferably extends upwards above the level of surround portion 15 so that if the water exit from the tray were to be blocked then the water would not easily flow into aperture 18 in the event that seal 24 proved ineffective.

A further feature of the tray is the continuous nature of area 15 would allow a four sided shower enclosure to be fitted down upon this area.

It will be appreciated that the tray 10 and aperture 18 could be of any desirable shape or size.

Also, other methods of securing the closure cap 20 or providing a seal will be readily apparent. Also the aperture 18 could be provided in a variety of other locations, as long as access is still given to areas requiring it.

Claims

1. A shower tray having a recessed area defined by upstanding side walls which recessed area has a drainage hole, said shower tray providing an aperture having a removable access member to close off the aperture.

2. A shower tray as claimed in claim 1 wherein sealing means is provided between the aperture and the closure member so as to sealingly close off the aperture.

3. A shower tray as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the aperture is formed in one of the side walls of the shower tray and the side walls extend upwardly from the recessed area and then outwardly at their highest point to form a surround portion.

4. A shower tray as claimed in claim 3 wherein said aperture is provided in said surround.

5. A shower tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said drainage hole is formed at the edge of the recessed area generally adjacent the aperture.

6. A shower tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the aperture has upstanding walls topped with a sealing material.

7. A shower tray as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sealing material is in the form of a boot.

8. A shower tray as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the closure member is in the form of a cap having a continuous, outwardly extending side wall which covers the upstanding wall of the aperture.

9. A shower tray as claimed in claim 8 wherein the closure member is in the form of a cap having a continuous, outwardly extending side wall which covers the upstanding wall of the aperture.

10. A shower tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.