GB2354705A

GB2354705A - Water diverter for rim of a bath, sink or basin

Info

Publication number: GB2354705A
Application number: GB9917945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mushtaq Khanan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-30
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-30
Also published as: GB2354705B; GB9917945D0

Abstract

A diverter means for attachment to part of the surface, usually a corner; of a bath, sink or basin so as to provide a barrier to the passage of water or liquid over the surface and to direct said water into the bath sink or basin.

Description

2354705 SEALING METHOD AND ELEMENT This invention relates to sealing

elements of the kind (hereinafter referred to as "the kind specified") designed for attachment to a surface in order to provide a barrier to the passage of water or other liquid over the surface.

One aspect of the invention is concerned with a seal for a bath. A bath is usually installed with at least one end abutting a wall or/and with one side abutting a wall. A problem with baths installed in this way is that water may run along the generally horizontal surface of a part of the rim of the bath which abuts a wall, over the edge or edges at the adjoining comer or comers which is or are not against a wall, and onto the floor below. This can occur when a person is having a bath, for example as a result of the person lying down too quickly, causing a wave of water to wash over the back of the bath and inevitably over an adjacent comer edge. It can be caused by rinsing down the bath after cleaning. When a bath is used as a shower, it can be caused simply by accidentally directing the shower spray at a wall abutted by the bath.

Even if one is careful, it is sometimes unavoidable. This is because, over a period of time, it is common that the outer side of the bath that users climb over to get into the bath becomes slightly lower than the opposite, inner side, which is usually adjacent a wall. The outer side of the bath is also abused more by standing on it to change light bulbs for example, or just sitting on it.

As a result the bath assumes a sloping position and water therefore tends to flow over one or both of the outer comer edges of the bath, especially water directly or indirectly from a shower. This water usually ends up on the floor below. A shower curtain even if pulled around and into the bath will not always prevent this flow of water. This will potentially cause extensive damage to carpets, floors, joists and maybe ceilings below the bathroom area.

2 This damage could also cause the bath to drop further, increasing the slope more so and therefore increasing the flow of water over an outer comer edge.

An obvious solution to the above problem is to re-align the bath. This involves removing the bath panel and adjusting the bath so that it sits level.

This however also entails re-sealing the bath afterwards. In some circumstances this re-aligning becomes difficult, especially if ceramic wall tiles are fitted flush to the rim of the bath preventing it from moving upwards. This solution is not only time consuming, but difficult and sometimes expensive.

Similar problems also arise with sinks and wash basins.

In accordance with the first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of preventing water running over the generally horizontal surface of part of the rim of a bath, sink or wash basin towards an adjacent comer, which comprises providing a sealing element of the kind specified and attaching it to the said surface adjacent the said comer, the sealing element being formed and arranged to provide a barrier across the whole width of the said surface against the flow of water over the surface towards the adjacent comer.

A second aspect of the invention is concerned with a form of sealing element of the kind specified and has for its object the provision of such a sealing element which has a simple and effective means for attaching it to a surface and simple and effective means for achieving a water-tight seal with the surface.

According to this aspect of the invention there is provided a sealing element of the kind specified which comprises attachment means for attaching the element to a surface and at least one flexible blade arranged on attachment of the element to a surface to contact the surface in sealing fashion.

3 The attachment means may be an appropriate adhesive, adhesive tape or a screw fixing but preferably comprises at least one suction pad.

Preferably the element has two said blades disposed at opposite sides of the suction pad. Depending on the length of the element, it may have two or 5 more suction pads.

The sealing element used in the method of the first aspect of the invention is preferably a sealing element according to the second aspect of the invention. Alternatively it may be a D-section or circular tube of a resiliently flexible material, for example synthetic rubber or plastic. Thus, when used with a bath the sealing element is attached to the surface of the rim of the bath just outside of a shower curtain if fitted, by moistening the suction pads and then pressing them against the surface, the blades being flexed outwards and held in place on the surface forming a water tight seal. The comer between the wall and the bath may also be sealed by blades at one end of the sealing element. There may be no need for suction pads to be fitted to this end of the sealing element as the underside suction pads may be sufficient to hold the bath seal firmly against the wall. The other end of the bath seal may just extend over the downward slope of the interior of the bath. The sealing element forms a dam between the water and the edge of the bath. The water collects behind this dam and is then safely directed back into the bath as it follows the inside edge of the sealing element.

The sealing element may be made of rubber or plastic or it may be a combination of the two perhaps with mould resistant properties. The main body of the element will be flexible enough to follow the contours of the bath. The blades may be of a softer more malleable material. The bath seal may be of several colours or transparent, and maybe shaped into a novelty design for example a snail or fish.

4 The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE I shows a preferred form of sealing element in position on a bath, FIGURE 2 is a detailed perspective view of the sealing element, and FIGURE 3 shows a longitudinal section on the line AA-AA in FIGURE 2, an end view in the direction of arrow BB, and an underneath plan view in the direction of arrow CC of the sealing element.

As shown in FIGURE I the sealing element A is attached to the generally horizontal surface K of a part of the rim of a bath L abutting a wall W. Its end C is pushed firmly against the wall to ensure a water tight seal at the comer between the bath and the wall.

Referring to FIGURE 2 the sealing element comprises an elongate body formed along its underside with five suction pads H and at opposite sides of these pads with two flexible blades G which project slightly beyond a plane containing the edges of the suction pads. As the suction pads are compressed on top of the bath rim the blades G are flexed outwards and provide a seal which water cannot pass. The sealing element is then held in place securely but can still be re-adjusted or removed for cleaning with ease. Although the sealing element is shown with a single blade at each side of the suction pads, it may have a plurality of parallel blades, perhaps reducing in depth towards the centre of the seal. This may provide a more efficient water tight seal.

The sealing element at end C has a similar flexible blade F around its perimeter. This when pushed against the wall spreads outwards to provide a vertical seal between the element and the wall. The sealing element may extend slightly at point E. This extension may fill any contours that may be lower than the surface of the bath rim, but is flexible enough to spread outwards without too much resistance to prevent undue upwards pressure. The sealing element is then firmly pushed down onto the surface and held in place by the suction pads underneath. The blades G which extend the full length of the sealing element provide the seal on the bath surface. Its end J just overhangs the downward slope of the bath. As the water collects at point B. indirectly or directly from the shower or bath, when in use, the bath seal prevents the water from travelling further and is re-directed back into the bath following the inside edge of the bath seal. This prevents the water from reaching the edge of the bath L and will prevent floor/carpet damage at point D.

For baths that have ceramic quadrant beading fixed around the comer edges of the bath, an adapter may be provided that fits on to the end C of the sealing element and is shaped to follow the contours of the beading.

6

Claims

1. A flexible sealing element with elongate body for bath sink or wash basin with means for attaching to part of the rim of a bath sink or wash basin to form a water barrier across part of said surface so as to cause surface water to be deflected into the said bath sink or wash basin.

2. A flexible sealing element as claimed in claim I with one or more water deflecting blades running parallel or substantially parallel to the attaching means along the length of the underside of the sealing element.

3. A flexible sealing element as claimed in claim I where the sides of the element are so formed as to function as water deflecting blades.

4. A flexible sealing element as claimed in any previous claim where the sides are so angled as to form a tapered shape.

5. A flexible sealing element as claimed in any previous claim which is formed into any elongate novelty shape,

6. A flexible sealing element as claimed in any previous claim where the water deflecting blade is arranged so as to provide a water tight seal when in contact with the rim of the bath sink or wash basin.

7 7. A flexible sealing element as claimed in any previous claim with water deflecting blades on both sides of the said attaching means.

8. A flexible sealing element as claimed in any previous claim made from resiliently flexible material and formed into D section.

9. A flexible sealing element as claimed in any previous claim where the water deflecting blades are present at one or both ends of the flexible sealing element.

10. A flexible sealing element as claimed in any previous claim where the attaching means is an adhesive strip.

11. A flexible sealing element as claimed in claims I to 9 in which the attaching means is a screw fixing.

12. A flexible sealing element as claimed in claims I to 9 in which the attaching means is one or more suction pads.