GB2346803A

GB2346803A - Shower enclosure and tray

Info

Publication number: GB2346803A
Application number: GB9927777A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Ledwith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-25
Filing date: 1999-11-24
Publication date: 2000-08-23
Also published as: GB9825694D0; GB9927777D0

Abstract

A shower enclosure panel (2) comprises first (6) and second (8) walls spaced apart from one another to provide a cavity (10) therebetween, a section of the second wall (8) adapted to provide an opening (12) therein, which opening (12) provides access to at least part of the cavity (10). Suitably, a shower valve can be located on an outer surface of the first wall (6) and the shower workings (18) can be located inside the cavity (10). Also disclosed is a shower tray provided with an opening therein to allow water supply pipes to pass through said tray.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHOWER ENCLOSURE PANELS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to shower enclosure panels, in particular to shower enclosure panels which facilitate installation and maintenance of shower enclosures.

Background of the Invention Normally, shower enclosures are constructed using one or more panels in conjunction with one or more permanent walls, usually tiled, one of which panels comprises a door to allow access to the enclosure. In the case of such shower enclosures the shower valve is usually mounted on a permanent wall. In this case a hole must be made in the permanent wall to house the water supply pipe (s) and, in some cases, a shower pump. This hole must then be closed off and tiled over before the shower valve can be fitted on the wall and connecte to the water supply pipe (s).

A problem with such an arrangement, is that in the event that there are any problems with the workings of the shower such as the pipework or the pump, either immediately after installation or at a later date, the tiles have to be removed and the hole in the wall reopened to allow access to the workings. Furthermore, installation and maintenance in such a manner is generally complicated and often requires professional assistance.

Shower cubicles have been provided in the form of free standing units which comprise a shower valve fitted to a wall of the cubicle. However, such cubicles are inherently unstable. Furthermore, the pipework connecte to the shower valve is generally arrange on the exterior of the cubicle, necessitating arrangement thereof against a wall to hide the pipework from view. Whilst such a cubicle may facilitate installation of a shower enclosure, it does not facilitate maintenance of the enclosure.

Other devices which can be fitted into a shower enclosure include steam generators, a water heater and water jets.

All of these devices are generally fitted into the shower enclosure in the same manner as a shower valve is fitted.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a shower enclosure panel that facilitates installation of a shower valve and associated equipment and maintenance thereof.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a shower enclosure panel comprising first and second walls spaced apart from one another so as to provide a cavity therebetween, a section of said second wall being adapted to provide an opening therein, which opening provides access to at least part of said cavity.

Suitably, the shower enclosure panel further comprises a shower valve located on an outer surface of the first wall.

Suitably, the shower enclosure panel comprises workings or equipment for a shower valve, such as a water supply pipe or electrical wiring which workings are located within the cavity.

The shower enclosure panel may be provided with a pump for a shower valve, which pump is located within the cavity.

The shower enclosure panel may also comprise one or more of a steam generator, a water heater or a water jet. Any equipment associated with such devices, required for operation thereof, is suitably locatable in the cavity of the shower enclosure panel.

The phrase shower valve is herein defined as a combination of a shower control and a shower head with hose which is attache to the shower control. The shower control generally comprises at least a water temperature control device and a water flow control tap. The water temperature device may comprise a thermostatic mixer or a manual mixer.

A suitable shower valve is an electric shower unit.

A shower enclosure panel in accordance with the invention suitably adapted to provide a complete side wall of a shower enclosure. Alternatively, a shower enclosure panel in accordance with the invention may be adapted to provide at least part of a side wall of a shower enclosure.

The second wall of the shower enclosure panel suitably comprises a hinged panel which provides the opening in the second wall. Alternatively, the second wall is provided with a sliding panel which provides the opening. Moreover, the second wall may comprise a removable panel which is held in the wall by means of a releasable fastening, such as screws, and provides the opening when removed. The opening may be provided by any combination of the forgoing. Suitably, the dimensions of the opening are sufficient to allow access to the part of the cavity in which the shower equipment, including water pipes and pump, may be housed.

Suitably, the opening extends over a majority of the height and/or width of the shower enclosure panel.

A shower enclosure panel in accordance with the present invention may be used in conjunction with one or more permanent walls of a building to provide a shower enclosure. Suitably, a shower enclosure panel in accordance with the invention may be used in conjunction with two or more standard shower panels to provide a free standing shower cubicle.

Alternatively, a shower enclosure panel in accordance with the invention may be used as a shower screen for a bath.

Usually a shower screen for a bath is situated along a side of the bath abutting the wall.

If a booster pump is required to raise the water pressure, such a pump may be fitted on the exterior surface of the first wall, or inside the cavity of the shower enclosure panel.

The present invention further provides a shower tray, which shower tray is provided with an opening therein to allow water supply pipes to pass through the tray. Suitably, the opening is provided in an upper surface of the shower tray, preferably adjacent the edge thereof.

Advantageously, a shower enclosure panel in accordance with the invention is provided with a shower tray in accordance with the invention. Preferably, a shower enclosure panel in accordance with the present invention is arrange relative to a shower tray in accordance with the present invention such that water pipes and/or any electrical cables associated with the shower valve can pass directly through the opening in the shower tray into the cavity of the shower enclosure panel.

An avantage of such an arrangement is that the pipes and/or cables and the opening in the shower tray are not visible when the panel and tray are assemble as part of a shower enclosure.

If the shower enclosure panel in accordance with the present invention is used as a shower screen along the side of the bath an opening may be provided in an upper surface of the bath, preferably adjacent an edge thereof, to allow water supply pipes to pass therethrough and into the cavity of the shower partition wall.

The present invention yet further provides a shower enclosure comprising a shower enclosure panel, which shower enclosure panel comprises first and second walls spaced apart from one another to provide a cavity therebetween, a section of said second wall being adapted to provide an opening therein, which opening provides access to at least a part of the cavity.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings ; in which : Figure 1 shows an external view of a shower enclosure panel in accordance with the invention when installe ; Figure 2 shows the interrelationship of a shower enclosure panel and a shower tray in accordance with the invention ; and Figure 3 shows a sectional plan view of a shower enclosure panel installe in a shower enclosure.

Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a shower enclosure panel in accordance with the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 2, installe as part of a shower enclosure (not shown) adjacent and abutting a standard shower panel 4.

Shower enclosure panel 2 comprises a first wall 6 and a second wall 8, defining a cavity therebetween 10. The second wall 8 comprises an opening 12 provided by a hinged door 14.

Attache to the interior surface 16 of the first wall 6 is plumbing 18. The plumbing 18 comprises water pipes 20, a pump 22 and a water outlet 24. The water outlet 24 is connecte to a shower valve (not shown) attache to the exterior surface (not shown) of the first wall 6.

The shower enclosure panel 2 is preferably provided for installation with plumbing 18 already located within the cavity 10. Advantageously, a shower valve is also already located on the exterior surface of the first wall 6 and connecte to the water outlet 24. However, a shower enclosure panel 2 may also be provided for installation with only plumbing 18, for attachment of a separate shower valve upon installation of the enclosure panel 2.

Figure 2 illustrates a shower enclosure panel 30 in accordance with the present invention, provided with a shower tray 32 in accordance with the present invention.

The shower tray 32 and the enclosure panel 30 are shown in part cut away section to illustrate the inter-relationship thereof.

The shower tray 32 has an opening 34 in an upper surface 36 thereof. The shower tray 32 is associated with an external skirting 38.

The enclosure panel 30 comprises a first wall 40 and a second wall 42 which are spaced apart to provide a cavity 43. The first and second walls 40, 42 are held spaced apart by spacing means 44 and a bridge 46. The bridge 46 has an opening 48 in the surface which extends across the cavity 43. The opening 48 in the bridge 46 corresponds with the opening 34 in the shower tray 32 such that when installe the opening 34 in the shower tray 32 is not visible.

Water supply pipes 50 extend upwards through the floor (not shown) on which the shower enclosure is to be located and pass through openings 34 and 48 and extend into the cavity 43 of the shower enclosure panel 30.

Figure 2 further illustrates the opening 52 in the second wall 42. The opening 52 is provided by a removable panel 54. The panel 54 is held in position in the wall 42 to close opening 52 by means of screws (not shown). The panel 54 is screwed onto the anchor 56 attache to the inner surface of the second wall 42. It can also be seen from Figure 2, that a laminar surface 58 may be provided on the exterior surface of the second wall 42. Such a laminar surface may be provided to match the shower enclosure panel 30 to the room in which it is installe and/or to the other standard panels (not shown) of a shower enclosure in which the shower enclosure panel 30 is installe.

In installation of the apparats of Figure 2, the opening 34 in the shower tray 32 is placed over the water supply pipes 50, and is supporte on the skirting 38 as shown.

The shower enclosure panel 30 is then placed on top of the shower tray 32 such that the cavity 48 in the bridge 46 of the enclosure panel 30 passes over the water supply pipes 50 and coincides with the cavity 34 in the upper surface 36 of the shower tray 32.

Access to the cavity 43 of the shower enclosure panel 30 is via opening 52 provided by unscrewing the panel 54 and removing it. The water supply pipes 50 can then easily be connecte to any plumbing (not shown) attache to the interior surface of the first wall 40.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a shower enclosure panel 30 installe as part of a shower enclosure 102.

The shower enclosure 102 comprises two permanent walls 104, 106 providing a corner of the shower enclosure 102, a shower enclosure panel 100 in accordance with the present invention, a standard shower panel 108, a standard door panel 110 and shower tray 112.

The shower enclosure panel 100 comprises a first wall 114 and second wall 116 defining a cavity 118. A shower valve 120 is located on the exterior surface of the first wall 114 and water pipes 122 and pump 124 are housed within the cavity 118.

The shower tray 112 has a water outlet 128 and the side wall 126 abuts the bottom of the shower enclosure panel 100.

The rader's attention is directe to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combine in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replace by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims: 1. A shower enclosure panel comprising first and second walls spaced apart from one another so as to provide a cavity therebetween, a section of said second wall being adapted to provide an opening therein, which opening provides access to at least part of said cavity.
2. A shower enclosure panel according to Claim 1, which panel further comprises a shower valve located on an outer surface of said first wall.
3. A shower enclosure panel according to Claim 1 or 2, which panel further comprises workings for a shower valve located within said cavity.
4. A shower enclosure panel according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, which panel further comprises a pump for a shower valve located within the cavity.
5. A shower enclosure panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said panel is adapted to provide at least part of a side wall of a shower enclosure.
6. A shower enclosure panel according to Claim 5, wherein said panel is adapted to provide a complete side wall of a shower enclosure.
7. A shower enclosure panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said opening is provided by a hinged panel in said second wall.
8. A shower enclosure panel according to any one of Claims 1-6, wherein said opening is provided by a sliding panel of said second wall.
9. A shower enclosure panel according to any one of Claims 1-6, wherein said opening is provided by a removable panel of said second wall.
10. A shower enclosure panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said opening extends over a majority of the height and/or width of said second wall of said shower enclosure panel.
11. A shower tray, which shower tray is provided with an opening therein to allow water supply pipes to pass through said tray.
12. A shower tray according to Claim 11, wherein said opening is provided in an upper surface of said tray, adjacent an edge thereof.
13. A shower enclosure panel in accordance with any one of Claims 1-10 provided with a shower tray in accordance with any one of Claims 11-12.
14. A shower enclosure comprising a shower enclosure panel, which shower enclosure panel comprises first and second walls spaced apart from one another to provide a cavity therebetween, a section of said second wall being adapted to provide an opening therein, which opening provides access to at least part of the cavity.
15. A shower enclosure comprising a shower enclosure panel according to any one of Claims 1-10 and Claim 13.
16. A shower enclosure panel substantially as describes herein and with reference to Figures 1 or 2 of the drawings hereof.
17. A shower enclosure substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings hereof.
18. A shower tray, substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings hereof.