GB2312163A

GB2312163A - Foldable bath/shower screen

Info

Publication number: GB2312163A
Application number: GB9707544A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Sutherland
Original assignee: Kohler Daryl Ltd
Current assignee: Kohler Daryl Ltd
Priority date: 1996-04-18
Filing date: 1997-04-15
Publication date: 1997-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-15
Also published as: GB9707544D0; GB2312163B; GB9607997D0

Abstract

A foldable bath/shower screen (10) comprises a plurality of panel members (11-14). The first of said panel members 11 is fixably attachable by attachment means 15 to a support member. The panel members (11-14) are pivotably attachable to their adjacent panel members via pivot means (16-18) such that when, in use, the screen (10) is substantially planar, and when not in use, the panel members (11-14) forming the screen (10) can be folded so that the panel members (11-14) are substantially parallel to one another.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SCREENS The present invention relates to a foldable screen or enclosure member. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foldable shower bath screen.

Showers, for domestic use, are normally located within a cubicle or above a bath. The problem associated with showers located above a bath is that, in use, water tends to splash onto the surrounding area.

In order to contain said water within said bath, a number of screens or enclosure members have been utilised, for example, shower curtains, bath screens and sliding bath door enclosures.

One disadvantage exhibited by shower curtains is that, whilst showering, the curtain tends to stick to the bather. Furthermore, if the shower curtain is inadvertently hung outside the bath, splashing water will soak the surrounding area.

Fixed bath screens currently utilised are attached to a support member, such as a wall, at one side, and the base of the bath screen is located on the top edge of a side of a bath. In order to contain said splashing water within the bath, said bath screens need to be fairly large and in most cases extend along a substantial length of the top edge of a side of said bath. Since such screens are fixed and due to their required length, access to the bath may be inhibited.

In order to overcome the problems associated with said fixed bath screens, a pivot means has been introduced so that said bath screens could now be moved whilst still remaining attached to the support member.

In this connection, a rubber or like layer is attached to the base of the bath screen so as to seal the base of the bath screen to the top edge of a side of the bath.

However, due to the size of most bathrooms and due to the size of said bath screens it is not always possible to move such screens through 90 degrees. Furthermore, such motion may be inhibited by other bathroom fixtures such as a sink. Therefore, the disadvantage of inhibiting access to a bath still remains.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a shower bath screen which, when not in use, can be folded compactly against said support member and therefore, overcome at least some of the disadvantages exhibited by the screens or enclosure members mentioned above.

According to the present invention there is provided a foldable bath screen wherein the screen comprises at least two panel members, comprising a first panel member being fixably attachable by attachment means to a support member and a second panel member being pivotably attached to the first panel member by pivot means, whereby, when in use, the bath screen is substantially planar, and when not in use, the second panel member is folded onto the first panel member so that the panel members are substantially parallel to one another.

In a preferred embodiment said screen comprises four panel members, however, it is to be understood that this number can be increased or reduced depending on the size or length of the bath to which said screen is to be fitted.

Where there are say four panel members, and the bath screen is no longer in use, the outermost or fourth panel member is pivoted onto its adjacent or third panel member, and then said fourth panel member together with the third panel member is pivoted onto the second panel member, and finally, the second, third and fourth panel members are pivoted onto the innermost or first panel member so that all the panel members are substantially parallel to one another.

In such case said pivot means between adjacent panel members have to take into account that each time a panel member is folded over, working inwardly from the outermost panel member, then the combined panel members also have to be folded over together. Accordingly, the spacing or distance provided by each pivot means starting from the pivot means furthest away from the pivot means pivotably attaching the first panel member to its adjacent panel member increases by about 50%.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top view of the bath screen of the present invention when not in use; and Fig. 2a,b,c sequentially illustrates the manner in which the screen of the present invention is folded away.

Fig.1 illustrates the screen 10 when folded. The screen 10 comprises four panel members 11, 12, 13, 14.

Each panel member 11, 12, 13, 14 is pivotably attachable to its respective adjacent panel member by pivot means 16, 17, 18. That is, panel members 11 and 12 are pivotably attachable to one another via pivot means 16, panel members 12 and 13 are pivotably attachable to one another via pivot means 17 and panel members 13 and 14 are pivotably attachable to one another via pivot means 18.

The first panel member 11 is fixably attachable to a support member (not illustrated) , such as a wall, by attachment means 15. In another embodiment, the first panel member is pivotably attachable to the attachment means so that when not in use the screen of the present invention can be folded such that the panel members are substantially parallel to the support member.

With reference to Fig. 2a, the screen 10, when in use, is planar. In the event that the screen 10 is to be folded away, the outermost panel member 14, that is in relation to the attachment means 15, is pivoted approximately 180 degrees about pivot means 18, so that panel member 14 is folded over onto and is substantially parallel and adjacent to panel member 13.

With reference to Fig. 2b, the screen 10 is folded once again so that panel members 14 and 13, which are parallel and adjacent to one another, are pivoted in the same direction through a further 180 degrees about pivot means 17 so that panel members 13 and 14 are substantially parallel to panel member 12.

With reference to Fig. 2C, the substantially parallel panel members 12, 13 and 14 are pivoted about pivot means 16 so that same are substantially parallel to the first panel member 11 which is fixably attachable to a support member via attachment means 15. By folding the screen 10 in this manner it becomes compact and occupies very little space.

With further reference to Fig. 1, in order for the screen 10 to fold in this swiss-roll like manner, the distance or spacing X provided by each of the pivot means 18, 17, 16 between their respective panel members 14 and 13, 13 and 12, 12 and 11 increases by about 50e.

Although the screen of the present invention has been described in relation to use as a shower bath screen it is to be understood that the screen of the present invention has other practical uses.

Claims

1. A foldable bath screen, wherein the screen comprises at least two panel members, comprising a first panel member being fixably attachable by attachment means to a support member and a second panel member being pivotably attached to the first panel member by pivot means, whereby, when in use, the bath screen is substantially planar, and when not in use, the second panel member is folded onto the first panel member so that the panel members are substantially parallel to one another.

2. A foldable bath screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first panel member is pivotably attachable to the support member such that when not in use the folded screen is substantially parallel to the support member.

3. A foldable bath screen as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the screen comprises four panel members, each panel member being pivotably attachable to its respective adjacent panel member by pivot means such that when not in use, the fourth panel member is pivoted onto its adjacent or third panel member, and then said fourth panel member together with the third panel member, is pivoted onto the second panel member, and finally the second, third and fourth panel members are pivoted onto the first panel member so that all the panel members are substantially parallel to one another.

4. A foldable bath screen as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spacing or distance provided by each pivot means starting from the pivot means furthest away from the pivot means pivotably attaching the first panel member to its adjacent panel member increases by about 50%.

5. A foldable bath screen substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.