GB2381447A

GB2381447A - Drainage tray

Info

Publication number: GB2381447A
Application number: GB0125997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart George Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-30
Filing date: 2001-10-30
Publication date: 2003-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-30
Also published as: GB0125997D0; GB2381447B

Abstract

A drainage tray 8 for use adjacent bathing apparatus such as a bath or shower (not shown) comprises a base 10 and drainage means 14 to drain liquid collected by the tray from a person stepping from the bathing apparatus to locate thereon.

Description

Drainage Trays This invention relates to drainage trays, particularly but not exclusively to drainage trays for use in caravans.

After a person has taken a shower, or had a bath, it is generally preferable to exit the shower or bath to dry off. However a person leaving the shower or bath whilst still wet usually causes wetting of the floor area on which they stand whilst drying. This can result in damage to the floor or floor covering in this area. In areas where the floor area is inherently fragile or otherwise susceptible to damage from wet, such as caravans, structural damage to the floor area can result.

There is also a risk that as a person steps out from the bath or shower they may slip as the area of floor they step out onto becomes wet.

In the present specification the term"bathing"is used to relate to any process or method of washing a body, including showering.

According to the invention there is provided a drainage tray for location adjacent bathing apparatus, the tray comprising a base having drainage means to drain liquid collected by the tray from a person stepping from the bathing apparatus to locate thereon.

Preferably the tray comprises guide means, which may comprise a surface, to direct liquid to the drainage means. The guide means may comprise a sloping surface to guide liquid to the drainage means. A plurality of guide surfaces may be provided in the tray. One or more guide formations, such as one or more recesses, channels or the like may be provided in the tray.

Preferably the drainage means comprises an opening in the base.

Preferably a guide duct is provided extending from the opening, the duct preferably directing drained fluid away from the base. The diameter of the duct

may be between 5mm and 25mm, most preferably 15mm. The drainage means may direct liquid to a location remote from the base, and may direct liquid to an area exterior to the area in which the tray is located.

A non-slip surface may be provided on the tray, which non-slip surface may be provided on an upper surface of the base to mitigate the likelihood of a person stepping onto the tray slipping thereon. The non-slip surface may comprise a non-slip material and/or formation (s) to act to prevent slipping.

The drainage tray may have a side wall extending upwardly from the base. The side wall preferably extends between 5mm and 25mm above the base, most preferably 10mm. Preferably a plurality of side walls is provided, desirably generally around the periphery of the base.

The opening may in an alternative embodiment be provided in a side wall.

Preferably the tray further comprises fixing means to enable fixing of the tray in location for use.

The tray may have a length of between 400mm and 700mm and a width of between 400mm and 700mm. The length of the base is most preferably 600mm and the width is most preferably 600mm.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a bathing suite comprising a drainage tray as described in any of the previous paragraphs.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of providing drainage for liquid from a person exiting bathing apparatus, such as a bath or shower, the method comprising providing a drainage tray as described in any of the paragraphs above, next to the bathing apparatus to receive a person exiting the bathing apparatus to locate thereon.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dramage tray according to the invention; and FIg. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the tray along the line II-II of Fig. 1 in location on a floor area of a caravan.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is provided a drainage tray 8 for use adjacent bathing apparatus such as a bath or shower (not shown) 8 comprising a base 10 having drainage means 14 to drain liquid collected by the tray 8.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a drainage tray 8 which is generally square in plan with rounded corners 9. The tray 8 includes a base 10 and side walls 12 extending upwardly around the base 10. The length of each side wall 12 is approximately 600 mm and each side wall 12 extends approximately 10 mm above the lowest point of the base 10. The base 10 is generally dished, defining a sloping, curved surface 13 which extends from each of the side walls 12 down to the lowest point at the centre. At this central low point, there is a drainage opening 14 from which a guide duct 16 extends. The duct 16 is of circular cross-section and has a diameter of approximately 15 mm.

Fig. 2 shows the drainage tray 8 in place on a floor area F of a caravan.

The tray 8 is located adjacent bathing apparatus such as a shower cubicle, bath or other (not shown) in the caravan so that a person exiting the bathing apparatus can step directly onto the tray 8 to prevent water dripping directly onto the floor F.

The base 10 of the tray 8 is secured on the floor 18 of the caravan. A hole 20 is drilled in the floor, which in most caravans is made of chipboard or other material that is vulnerable to water damage. The hole 20 is sized to tightly accommodate the duct 16.

Fixing means in the form of screws 22 are provided to fix the base 10 firmly to the floor 18 of the caravan. The screws 22 are locatable through holes

24, one at each corner of the base 10 to securely fix the drainage tray 8 m position.

As described above, the tray 8 is situated adjacent bathing apparatus so that when a person exits the bathing apparatus a drainage area is provided outside the bathing apparatus itself. The person exiting the bathing apparatus steps directly onto the drainage tray 8. As a result, water dripping from the person is not allowed to reach the floor 18, but drips onto the drainage tray 8 and flows down the sloped base 10 towards the opening 14 provided at the lowest point of the base 10. The water flows through the opening 14 and is guided to be deposited outside and beneath the caravan through the duct 16.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the base member may be of any suitable different shape and size. The side walls may vary in height. The drainage opening may be located other then centrally, for example toward or at one side of the base. A plurality of drainage openings may be provided. Alternative attachment means may be provided to prevent the tray from moving whilst in use. Any suitable guide formation such as channels, ribs. recesses or the like may be provided.

The tray 8 may comprise a non-slip surface of anti-slip material such as rubber. As an alternative or in addition the non-s-hp surface has anti-slip formations, such as ridges and/or raised spots, to help prevent a person stepping onto and standing on the base from slipping, particularly when the base is wet. Of course, the drainage of water from the base also helps to reduce the likelihood of slipping.

Whilst endeavouring m the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A drainage tray for location adjacent bathing apparatus, the tray comprising a base having drainage means to drain liquid collected by the tray from a person stepping from the bathing apparatus to locate thereon.
2. A drainage tray according to claim I, wherein the tray comprises guide means to direct liquid to the drainage means.
3. A drainage tray according to claim 2, wherein the guide means comprises a surface.
4. A drainage tray according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the guide means comprises a sloping surface.
S. A drainage tray according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a plurality of guide surfaces are provided in the tray.
6. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more guide formations are provided in the tray.
7. A drainage tray according to claim 6, wherein the one or more guide formations comprise one or more recesses or channels.
8. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drainage means comprises an opening in the base.
9. A drainage tray according to claim 8, wherein a guide duct is provided extending from the opening, the duct directing drained fluid away from the base.
10. A drainage tray according to claim 9, wherein the duct has a diameter in

<Desc/Clms Page number 6>

the range of 5 mm to 25 mm.
11. A drainage tray according to claim 10, wherein the duct has a diameter of 15 mm.
12. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drainage means directs liquid to a location remote from the base.
13. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drainage means directs liquid to an area exterior to the area in which the tray is located.
14. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a nonslip surface is provided on the tray.
15. A drainage tray according to claim 14, wherein the non-slip surface is provided on an upper surface of the base to mitigate the likelihood of a person stepping onto the tray slipping thereon.
16. A drainage tray according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the non-slip surface comprises a non-slip material.
17. A drainage tray according to claims 14 to 16, wherein the non-slip surface includes formations to act to prevent slipping.
18. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tray includes a side wall extending upwardly from the base.
19. A drainage tray according to claim 18, wherein the side wall extends between 5 mm and 2 5 mm above the base.
20. A drainage tray according to claim 19, wherein the side wall extends 10 mm above the base.

<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
21. A drainage tray according to claims 18 to 20, wherein a plurality of side walls is provided, generally around the periphery of the base.
22. A drainage tray according to claims 8 to 21, wherein the opening is provided in a side wall.
23. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tray comprises fixing means to enable fixing of the tray in location for use.
24. A drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tray has a length of between 400 mm and 700 mm and a width of between 400 mm and 700 mm.
25. A drainage tray according to claim 24, wherein the length of the base is 600 mm and the width is 600 mm.
26. A bathing suite comprising a drainage tray according to any of the preceding claims.
27. A method of providing drainage for liquid from a person exiting bathing apparatus, such as a bath or shower, the method comprising providing a drainage tray according to claims 1 to 26 next to the bathing apparatus to receive a person exiting the bathing apparatus to locate thereon.
28. A drainage tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
29. A bathing suite substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
30. A method of providing drainage for a person exiting bathing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
31. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.