GB2311218A

GB2311218A - Bath with integral overflow fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2311218A
Application number: GB9605795A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Tyrone Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-20
Filing date: 1996-03-20
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-20
Also published as: GB9605795D0; GB2311218B

Abstract

A bath comprises sealed together inner (2) and outer (4) skins an overflow outlet (8) in a side wall of the inner skin (2), a main drainage outlet (10) on a lower wall of the bath, the main drainage outlet (10) passing through both inner (2) and outer (4) skins; and a conduit (16) disposed between the inner (2) and outer (4) skins and extending from the overflow outlet (8) to a location beneath the inner skin (2) where it discharges into the main drainage outlet (10).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BATHS This invention relates to baths and in particular baths of the free-standing variety.

Free-standing baths, in which the main body of the bath is supported on legs fixed to the underside of the bath have been known for very many years. Such baths typically are mounted next to a wall in order to conceal the plumbing, waste outlets and overflow conduit. One problem with such baths is that if they are mounted away from a wall, for example in the middle of the bathroom, the visibility of the plumbing, and in particular the overflow pipe, detracts considerably from the aesthetic quality of the bath. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this problem by providing a bath in which the overflow conduit is concealed within the fabric of the bath itself.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a bath comprising sealed together inner and outer skins; and having an overflow outlet in a side wall of the inner skin; and a main drainage outlet on a lower wall of the bath, the main drainage outlet passing through both inner and outer skins; a conduit being disposed between the inner and outer skins and extending from the overflow outlet to a location beneath the inner skin where it discharges into the main drainage outlet.

The bath is preferably a free-standing bath which has three or more legs, preferably 4, attached to the main body of the bath.

The inner and outer skins typically are formed from a moulded polymeric plastics material; for example a glass reinforced plastics material (GRP).

It is preferred that the space between the inner and outer skins is filled with a sealant material; and in particular a polymeric resin material, thereby giving additional strength to the bath and ensuring the absence of leaks.

The main drainage outlet extends through both the inner and outer skins and is typically in the form of a tubular member having lateral openings in its side walls which communicate with the overflow conduit.

The invention also provides a process for manufacturing a bath of the type hereinbefore defined, which process comprises moulding separately the inner and outer skins; fixing a conduit to the external surface of the inner skin, coating the inner skin and conduit with a resin composition and inserting the inner skin into the outer skin; and optionally filling any remaining gaps between the inner and outer skins so as to form a water tight seal between the skins and preferably also the overflow outlet.

It is preferred if the resin composition includes glass reinforcement.

The invention will now be illustrated by reference to the particular embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a bath according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation along the line I-I in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional elevation along the line II-II in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section showing the drainage outlet in more detail.

Referring now to the drawings, the bath comprises inner 2 and outer 4 skins formed from a plastics or resin material such as GRP, and sealed together by means of an intermediate layer 6 of a glass reinforced resin material and plastic foam. Inner skin 2 has an overflow opening 8 which in this embodiment is located approximately half way along one side wall of the bath. On the lower wall of the bath, the main drainage outlet 10 is constituted by a tubular member 12 having a flared end 14 allowing it to be countersunk into the inner skin 2 as shown in Figure 4.

Tubular member 12 passes through the outer wall 4 to the bath exterior where it can be connected to the drainage system in conventional fashion.

Disposed between the inner skin and outer skin 4 is a conduit 16 which is generally U shaped in cross-section and extends between the overflow opening 8 and the main drainage opening 10 at the bottom of the bath. The manner in which the conduit 16 discharges into the main drainage waste opening 10 can be seen more clearly from Figure 4.

Thus, a hole 18 is created in the wall of the conduit, the hole 18 being in register with corresponding openings in the inner and outer skins. Tubular member 12 passes through the hole 18. In order to provide liquid communication between the conduit and the tubular member 12, the tubular member 12 is provided with lateral openings 20.

The baths are fabricated in a series of steps with the inner and outer skins initially being formed separately.

Thus the appropriately shaped mould is coated with a mixture of a suitably pigmented gel coat (e.g. Scott Bader Gel Coat) and a hardener. When the gel coat has dried, several layers of fibreglass sheet mixed with resin and hardener are applied, and the mixture allowed to cure. A similar process is used to form both the outer and inner skins.

After inner and outer skins have been prepared, a length of channel section conduit 16 is affixed to the outer surface of the inner skin using glassfibre and resin.

The inner skin is then sprayed with a mixture of chopped glass fibre and resin to seal the conduit against leakage.

Bolts (not shown) are fitted at the four corners of the bath and are secured in place with more resin and fibre glass. The tubular member 12 is inserted through appropriately sited holes in the inner and outer skins and through a hole drilled in the base of the conduit 16. The outer surface of the inner skin, and the inner surface of the outer skin, respectively are then sprayed with a mixture of chopped GRP and resin and are sandwiched together. Resin is then applied to the gaps between the lips 2a and 4a on the rolled edges of the inner and outer skin to complete the sealing process. The bath is then left for a sufficient time to allow the resins to harden, following which it is polished in known fashion.

The bath shown in the accompanying drawings is thus provided with an overflow conduit which is invisible from the outside of the bath.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations can be made to the bath shown in the accompanying drawings without departing from the principles underlying this invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this Application.

Claims

1. A bath comprising sealed together inner and outer skins; and having an overflow outlet in a side wall of the inner skin; and a main drainage outlet on a lower wall of the bath, the main drainage outlet passing through both inner and outer skins; a conduit being disposed between the inner and outer skins and extending from the overflow outlet to a location beneath the inner skin where it discharges into the main drainage outlet.

2. A bath according to claim 1 which is a free-standing bath having three or more legs, preferably 4, attached to the main body of the bath.

3. A bath according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inner and outer skins are formed from a moulded polymeric plastics material.

4. A bath according to claim 3 wherein the moulded polymeric plastics material is a glass reinforced plastics material (GRP).

5. A bath according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the space between the inner and outer skins is filled with a sealant material thereby giving additional strength to the bath and ensuring the absence of leaks.

6. A bath according to claim 5 wherein the sealant material is a polymeric resin material.

7. A bath according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main drainage outlet is in the form of a tubular member having lateral openings in its side walls which communicate with the overflow conduit.

A A process for manufacturing a bath of the type defined in any one of the preceding claims, which process comprises moulding separately the inner and outer skins; fixing a conduit to the external surface of the inner skin, coating the inner skin and conduit with a resin composition and inserting the inner skin into the outer skin; and optionally filling any remaining gaps between the inner and outer skins so as to form a water tight seal between the skins and preferably also the overflow outlet.

9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the resin composition includes glass reinforcement.

10. A bath substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of manufacturing a bath substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.