GB2422539A

GB2422539A - Shower enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2422539A
Application number: GB0501921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Christopher King
Original assignee: MAJESTIC SHOWER Co Ltd
Current assignee: MAJESTIC SHOWER Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-01-29
Filing date: 2005-01-29
Publication date: 2006-08-02
Also published as: GB0501921D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a shower enclosure (1, Fig 1) comprising at least two glass panels 14,16. Each glass panel has top, bottom and side edges and at least one side overlap portion 66. The at least two glass panels are curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges and are arranged such that an overlap is formed between the side overlap portions. The side overlap portions are offset 68 so that they not in contact. The glass panels are secured to one another using at least one substantially rigid linking clamp 36. The linking clamp includes a substantially rigid linking member 40 with two clamp means 46, 48 secured thereto. One clamp means is secured to each glass panel. A kit of parts and a method for making the enclosure is also provided.

Description

Shower Enclosure The present invention relates to shower enclosures,

particularly to shower enclosures made from curved glass and which have substantially no frame.

The use of glass to form at least part of one or more walls of a shower enclosure is well known. In some cases the glass is used as glazing in a structural framework which forms the enclosure. Recently there has been a trend towards the use of frameless shower enclosures as they are more aesthetically pleasing and use a greatly reduced amount of metal which can therefore make them cheaper to fabricate.

In order to make glass walled frameless shower enclosures that are acceptable to consumers it is important that the glass walls do not flex significantly as this can lead to an undesirable impression of cheap or flimsy construction and also cause water seals to fail. In order to avoid such flexing, flat glass panels are typically fabricated from toughened glass having a thickness of 8 mm or more. Such glass is costly and heavy to transport.

The use of two of more curved panels of glass has been tried in the past for forming shower enclosures. These enclosures make use of a metal framework to support the panels. One or more edges of each panel are butted into a channel on a substantially vertical post to form the water seal. To avoid undesirable flexing of the structure the post can then secured to a wall or ceiling either directly, or through the use of additional framework. Such an assembly is time consuming to construct makes use of many parts which can make

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such enclosures expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more convenient shower enclosure, a kit of parts and a method for making such an enclosure.

According to the invention there is provided a shower enclosure comprising at least two glass panels, each glass panel having top, bottom and side edges and at least one side overlap portion, at least one of the two glass panels being curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges, the two glass panels being arranged such that an overlap is formed between the side overlap portions, the side overlap portions being offset such that they not in contact, the glass panels being secured to one another using at least one substantially rigid linking clamp, the linking clamp comprising a substantially rigid linking member with two clamp means secured thereto, one clamp means being secured to each glass panel.

The use of at least one curved glass panels allows the use of thinner glass to fabricate the panel as the curvature of the panel imparts a bend resistance perpendicular to the axis about which the panel is curved. It is preferred that both the glass panels are curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges. Using curved glass panels allows toughened glass of, for example, 6 mm thickness to be used without the panel being undesirably flexible. It should be understood that other thicknesses of glass, thicker or thinner, may be used provided that they are safe for use as shower walls.

The use of two glass panels reduces the size of any one panel and therefore makes installation of the shower enclosure faster and more convenient as the panels can be manoeuvred more readily through doors or up stairs within a house into which the enclosure is to be installed. It is also noted that readily available curved glass sheets have a maximum central deflection of about 100mm and if a greater central deflection in a curved wall is required, more than one curved panel must be used.

By overlapping and offsetting the side overlap portions a barrier to water spray can be created without the need for additional sealing members between the panels. The effectiveness of the barrier at preventing spray escaping from the shower enclosure depends upon the spray direction and amount of overlap and the offset distance. It should be understood that a seal could be used to provide a more effective barrier to achieve a greater level of spray retention within the shower enclosure.

If the overlap is arranged within the shower enclosure such that the water sprayed from shower head(s) within the enclosure, or deflected from a person or object within the shower is not directed to pass between the panels, the shower will substantially prevent water from escaping without the need for seals. The amount of overlap and offset can be adjusted depending upon the water barrier required, with a smaller offset, or increased overlap, being used to increase the water barrier effectiveness.

The offset between the panels also facilitates cleaning within the overlapping region to help prevent mildew and mould growth. The offset is preferably between 6 mm and mm and more preferably between 6 mm and 10 mm as this allows access for cleaning while retaining the water barrier effect. The overlap is preferably between 8 mm and 50 mm and more preferably between 8 mm and 20 mm as these distances again allow access for cleaning and provide a suitable water barrier without using a excess glass where not required.

The overlap also increases the adaptability of the shower screen to uneven floors or non-vertical walls. The amount of overlap at the top of the glass does not need to be the same as the overlap at the bottom, although the overlap is preferably substantially the same along the overlap. The overlap can also be used to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances in the curved glass which make butt joints difficult, or unsightly to construct.

The overlap can also be used to disguise the use of any additional seal that may be fitted to an edge of the panels.

Any seal would preferably be installed on the panel edge within the shower enclosure such that the edge of the outer panel remains seal free.

Using a substantially rigid liking clamp allows the glass panels to be substantially rigidly secured to one another as this reduces the unwanted flexing of the glass panels. The substantially rigid linking clamp also maintains the arrangement of the overlap and offset of the panels as desired.

The clamp means of the linking clamp may fit over the top edge of the glass and clamp to the glass. However, it is preferred that an aperture is created through the glass panel in the desired location of the clamp means and that each clamp means comprises at least two parts which couple together through said aperture. A first part of each clamping means is attached to the linking member and a second part is adapted to be secured to the first part and provide a clamping action on the glass panel. The two parts are then located on opposite sides of the panel and secured together to clamp the glass panel between them. The two parts may be secured together using any suitable means, but preferably one part includes a male thread that engages with a female thread on the other part so that the two parts can be screwed together which provides a quick and reliable securing and clamping action.

It is preferred that the first parts of the clamping means extend away from the linking member by different distances as this allows easy setting of the offset between the panels.

For example, if linking member is to be fitted within the enclosure and arranged to extend in a curve substantially parallel with the inner glass panel, the clamp means with the longer first part can be attached to the outer glass panel and the clamp means with the shorter first part can be attached to the inner glass panel thereby establishing the desired offset. It should be understood that the first parts may extend substantially the same distance from the linking member and the coupling between the linking member and first parts can be adjusted to set the offset distance.

The clamp means are secured to the glass panels adjacent the overlapping edge portions, so outside of the overlapping region. This gives a more stable arrangement for the linking clamp and panels as the panels are not being clamped near the side edge. It is preferred that a centre of the clamp means is located between 15 mm and 200 mm, and more preferably 24 mm and 100 mm from the side edge adjacent the side overlap portion.

The shower enclosure preferably further includes a shower base above which the glass panels are mounted. The panels are preferably secured to the base using brackets to increase the stability of the panels. One of the panels may be secured to a wall using brackets to secure at least one side edge of the panel. The shower enclosure preferably includes a hinged door for allowing access to the shower area within the enclosure.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for fabricating a shower enclosure as described above.

The invention also provides a method of making a shower enclosure, the shower enclosure being as described above, and the method comprising the steps of: a. providing at least two glass panels, each glass panel having top, bottom and side edges and at least one side overlap portion and at least one glass panel being curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges; b. providing a substantially rigid linking clamp, the linking clamp comprising a substantially rigid linking member with two clamp means secured thereto c. using the substantially rigid linking clamp to secure the at least two panels together in an offset and overlapping arrangement.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a shower enclosure; and Figure 2 shows from above a detailed view of the overlap shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a shower enclosure 1 in a corner 2 of a room.

The shower enclosure 1 has walls 4,6 formed by walls forming the corner 2 and a curved wall 6 enclosing a shower area 8.

The shower enclosure 1 includes a shower base 10 located in the corner 2 forming the base of the shower enclosure 1. The curved wall 8 is arranged above a periphery 12 of the shower base 10. A shower unit 30 is located within the shower enclosure 8.

The curved wall 6 is formed from a first glass panel 14, a second glass panel 16 and a door panel 18. The door panel 18 is hinged to the wall 6 using hinge brackets 24,26. The first glass panel 14 is secured to the wall 4 by brackets 20,22 and to the shower base 10 by bracket 28. The second glass panel 16 is secured to the shower base by brackets 30,32, to the first glass panel by a substantially rigid linking bracket 36 and to the wall 6 by an elongate bridging link 38 which runs above the door panel 18. It should be understood that this bridging link 38 may be omitted is desired. The substantially rigid linking bracket 36 is attached to each glass panel 14,16 adjacent the top edge 15,17 and retains the panels in an offset, overlapping arrangement. The first panel 14 and second panel 16 each have a top edge 15,17, a bottom edge 19,21 and side edges Figure 2 shows a detailed cross section view from underneath of the substantially rigid linking bracket 36 in use to retain the first and second glass panels 14,16 of Figure 1.

The glass panels 14,16 are held in an overlapping 66 and offset arrangement 68. Each glass panel 14,16 includes a side overlap portion 70, 72 which forms the overlap 66 with the other panel. The offset 68 is determined by the linking bracket 36.

The linking bracket 36 comprises a substantially rigid linking member 40 coupled to two clamping means 42,44. Each clamping means includes a first part 46,48 and a second part 50,52. In each case, the first part 46,48 is attached to the linking member 40 and extends away therefrom. Each second part includes a projection 54,56 having a male thread which passes through an aperture 62, 64 in the glass panels 14,16 to engage with a recess 58,60 having a female thread in the first part to provide a clamping and securing action to secure the linking bracket 36 to the glass panels 14,16. The first parts 46,48 extend from the linking member 40 by different distances, and this distance determines the offset 68 between the side overlap portions 70,72 of the glass panels 14,16.

It should be understood that the invention has been described above by way of example only and that modifications in detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the claims.

Claims

- 10 - Claims 1. A shower enclosure comprising at least two glass panels,

each glass panel having top, bottom and side edges and at S least one side overlap portion, at least one of the two glass panels being curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges, the two glass panels being arranged such that an overlap is formed between the side overlap portions, the side overlap portions being offset such that they not in contact, the glass panels being secured to one another using at least one substantially rigid linking clamp, the linking clamp comprising a substantially rigid linking member with two clamp means secured thereto, one clamp means being secured to each glass panel.
2. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 1, in which the clamp means comprise a first part and a second part securable to said first part.
3. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 2, in which each glass panel includes an aperture through which a portion of the clamping means is to extend.
4. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 3, in which one of the first part and second part of the clamping means includes a protrusion having a male thread thereon which engages with a recess having a female thread on the other of the first and second part of the clamping means.
5. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the overlap between the panels is between 8 and 50 m.

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6. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 5, in which the overlap is between 8 and 20 mm.
7. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the offset between the panels is between 6 and 20 mm.
8. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 7, in which the offset between the panels is between 6 and 10 mm.
9. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the clamp means is attached to the glass panel between and 200 mm from the side edge adjacent the side overlap portion.
10. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the clamp means is attached to the glass panel between 24 and 100 mm from the side edge adjacent the side overlap portion.
11. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the at least one linking clamp is located adjacent the top edge of the glass panels.
12. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are a plurality of linking clamps secured to the glass panels.
13. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the shower enclosure further includes a shower base above which the at least two glass panels are arranged and to which the at least two glass panels are secured.

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14. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one of the at least two glass panels is secured to a wall.
15. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the shower enclosure further includes a door for allowing access to a shower area within the shower enclosure.
16. A shower enclosure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the at least two glass panels are bother curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges.
17. A kit of parts for making a shower enclosure, the shower enclosure being as claimed in any preceding claim, and the kit of parts comprising at least two glass panels and a substantially rigid linking clamp, each glass panel having top, bottom and side edges and at least one side overlap portion, at least one of the two glass panels being curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges, the linking clamp comprising a substantially rigid linking member with two clamp means secured thereto, one clamp means being secured to each glass panel.
18. A kit of parts for making a shower enclosure as claimed in claim 17, in which the at least two glass panels are both curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges.
19. A method of making a shower enclosure, the shower enclosure being as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, and the method comprising the steps of: a. providing at least two glass panels, each glass - 13 - panel having top, bottom and side edges and at least one side overlap portion and at least one glass panel being curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges; b. providing a substantially rigid linking clamp, the linking clamp comprising a substantially rigid linking member with two clamp means secured thereto c. using the substantially rigid linking clamp to secure the at least two panels together in an offset and overlapping arrangement.
20. A method of making a shower enclosure as claimed in claim 19, in which the at least two glass panels are both curved about an axis substantially parallel with the side edges
21. A shower enclosure substantially as herein described with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
22. A kit of parts for making a shower enclosure substantially as herein described with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying drawings.