GB2444398A

GB2444398A - Modular Shower Enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2444398A
Application number: GB0723319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Brian Bentley
Original assignee: BRIK GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: BRIK GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-28
Filing date: 2007-11-28
Publication date: 2008-06-04
Also published as: GB0723319D0; GB0623776D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a shower enclosure 10 comprising a support member 12 mounted to a support surface (22 figure 3) and at least one panel 14 releasably connected to the support member 12. The panel 14 and support surface (22 figure 3) cooperate to define a shower enclosure 10. The support member may comprise a frame 12 defined by three sections of tube 24, 26 and 26 wherein connection pieces 28 join the three sections of tube together. The connection pieces 28 may be tee-pieces allowing additional tube sections to be added to from a row of cubicles. Where a single cubicle is required elbow connections having an L-shaped may be used. A later embodiment relates to a method of constructing a shower enclosure comprising the steps of providing a support member mounted to a surface, and mounting a panel below the support member.

Description

I

Modular Shower Enclosure The present invention relates to a modular enclosure and in particular a modular shower enclosure.

In locations such as the changing areas of gyms and sports clubs there is typically a requirement to provide showering facilities for patrons. It is desirable to provide individual shower areas, however space constraints mean that it is often not possible to provide a required number of separate free standing shower cubicles and enclosures of a standard size. A modular system of shower enclosures is thus preferable. For the purposes of maintenance of the cubicles it is also desirable to enable elements of the modular enclosures to be removed and replaced without needing to disassemble the system as a whole.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a shower enclosure comprising a support member which is mountable to a support surface and at least one panel which is releaseably connectable to the support member, wherein the panel and support surface co-operate Ic define a shower enclosure.

The support surface may be defined by a wall of a building structure within which it is desired to provide a shower enclosure. The support surface may be defined a single wall of the building structure. Alternatively, the support surface may be defined by a plurality of walls of the building structure. The support member may comprise a frame. The frame may be of a unitary construction. Alternatively, the frame may be of a multipart construction. In such an embodiment, the frame may comprise at least two elongate members which are connected to one another by an appropriately configured connector member. The support member, in use, is preferably positioned above the panel such that the support member defines the upper region or boundary of the shower enclosure, and the panel is positioned below the support member.

The panel may be connected solely to the support member. Alternatively, the panel may be connected to the support member and the support surface. in yet an alternative embodiment, the panel may be connected to the support member and a floor upon which the cubicle is provided. In yet a further alternative embodiment, the panel may be connected to the support member, the support surface and the floor upon which the cubicle is to be provided. The panel may be connected to the support member by a clamp of the support member. The pane! may be connected to the support surface by a clamp mounted to the support surface. The panel may be connected to the floor by a foot member which extends between the panel and the floor.

The panel may be manufactured from a plastics material. In a preferred embodiment the panel may be manufactured from a translucent plastics material such as an acrylic material. The acrylic material may be Lucite (rtm). The panel may include a door which is hinged to the panel. The cubicle may be defined by a plurality of panels and the support surface. Where a plurality of panels are provided the support member and panels may be arranged so as co-operate with the support surface to define a plurality of shower cubicles.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a shower enclosure comprising the steps of: providing a support member; mounting the support member to a support surface; and mounting a panel below the support member so as to define a shower enclosure between the support surface and the panel.

The step of mounting the panel may comprise the steps of mounting the panel to the support member and the support surface. Optionally, the panel may be connected to floor upon which the enclosure is provided.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a shower enclosure according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows an assembled perspective view of the shower enclosure of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the shower enclosure of figure 1; and Figure 4 shows an array of four shower enclosures according to the present invention.

Referring firstly to figures 1 to 3 there is shown a shower cubicle or enclosure generally designated 10. The cubicle 10 comprises an upper frame 12) two side wall panels 14, two facia panels 16, a hinged door panei 18 and a plurality of optional ground engaging feet 20. The cubicle 10, when assembled, is mountable to a wall 22 of a building and which defines the rear wall of the cubicle 10.

The upper frame 12 is dcfincd by three sections of tube which comprise a transverse tube 24 and opposed lateral tubes 26. The transverse tube 24 is joined to the lateral tubes 26 by connection pieces 28. In the embodiment shown the connection pieces are in the form of T' pieces as the cubicle 10 is intended to form one of a row of substantially identical cubicles 10 as will be described in greater detail below. It will be understood that single elbow connection pieces having a substantially "L" shaped configuration may be used in embodiments where the cubicle 10 is intended to stand alone. The ends 30 of the lateral tubes 26 distal to the transverse tube 24 are receivable in respective seat members 32 which, in use, are secured to the wall 22.

The upper frame 12 serves to locate the upper edes of the wall and facia panels 14,16 with respect to one another and to the wall 22. The panels 14,16 are connected to the frame 12 by clamps generally designated 34. Each lateral tube 26 is provided with a clamp 34 which is positioned close to the connection piece 28 and which grips the upper edge of a side wall panel 14. The transverse tube 24 is provided with two clamps 34 at opposing ends thereof, each of which clamps 34 grips an upper edge of a facia panel 16. The wall 22 is further provided with clamps 34 adjacent each wall panel 14 which grip upper and lower regions of the edge of the wall panel 14 closest to the wall 22. Each clamp 34 comprises opposed clamp members which in use grip the panel 14,16 therebetween.

Each ground engaging foot 20 comprises a member having a first end 36 connectable to a panel 14,16 and a second end 38 which is connectable to the ground 40. Each side wall panel 14 is provided with a single foot 20 which is positioned close to the locution at which the side wall panel 14 meets a facia panel 16. Each facia panel 16 is provided with two feet 20.

The tube sections 24,26, connection pieces 28, seat members 32, clamps 34, feet 20 and hinges 42 which connect the door panel 18 to a facia panel 16 are preferably manufactured from metal such as, for example, stainless steel. The panels 14,16 may preferably be made from a shatter-resistant therrnoplastics material.

Alternatively, the panels 14,16 may be made from toughened glass. At the interface between each clamp 34 and panels 14,16 there may be provided a compressible gasket member.

Referring now to figure 4 there is shown an array of four cubicles lOa,lOb,lOc,lOd.

The cubicles lOa,lOb,lOc,lOd are provided in an alcove 44 of a building structure comprising a rear wall 22 and opposed side walls 46. The side walls 46 of the alcove define the outer walls of the outer two of cubicles 1 Ga, 1 Gd, while the rear wall of the cubicles I Os, I Ob, 1 Ge, I Gd is defined by the rear wall 22 of the alcove 44.

The cubicles I Oa, I Ob, I Oc, 1 Od are assembled in the following manner. Firstly, the upper frame 12 is constructed. For the cubicle arrangement shown this requires four transverse tube sections 24 and three lateral tube sections 26 which are joined by an appropriate number of connection pieces 28. Seat members 32 for the ends 30 of the tube sections 26328 arc fitted to the rear and side waiLs 22, 46 of the alcove 44 at the appropriate height. The frame member 12 is then mounted to the seat members 32. Clamps 34 for the side wall panels 14 are then fitted to the alcove rear wall 22.

The side wall panels 14 can then be mounted to the frame 12, alcove rear wafl 22 and the ground via the foot 20. The facia panels 16 can then be fitted to the upper frame 12 and to the ground via the feet 20 thereof. Each door panel 18 may either be pre-attached to a facia panel 16 of mounted to a facia panel 16 after it has been mounted to the upper frame 12. The door panels 18 are optional and may be omitted from the cubicle design.

It will be appreciated that individual panels 14,16 can be removed and, if necessary, replaced without needing to disassemble the cubicles lOa,lOb,IOc,lOd in their entirely.

Claims

1. A shower enclosure compn sing a support member which is mountable to a support surface and at least one panel which is releaseably connectable to the support member, wherein the panel and support surface co-operate to define a shower enclosure.

2. A shower enclosure a claimed in claim 1, wherein the support surface is defined by a wall of a building structure.

3. A shower enclosure a claimed in claim I OT claim 2, wherein the support member comprises a frame.

4. A shower enclosure a claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame is of a unitary construction.

5. A shower enclosure a claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame is of a multipart construction.

6. A shower enclosure a claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame comprises at least two elongate members which are connected to one another by an appropriately configured connector member.

7. A shower enclosure a claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member, in use, is positioned above the pane] such that the support member defines the upper region or boundary of the shower enclosure, and the panel is positioned below the support member.

8. A shower enclosure a claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel is connected solely to the support member.

9. A shower enclosure a claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the panel is connected to the support member and the support surface.

10. A shower enclosure a claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the panel is connected to the support member and a floor upon which the enclosure is provided.

11. A shower enclosure a claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the panel is connected to the support member, the support surface and the floor upon which the enclosure is to be provided.

12. A shower enclosure a claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the panel is cormected to the support member by a clamp of the support member.

13. A shower enclosure a claimed in claim 9 or claim 11, wherein the panel is connected to the support surface by a clamp mounted to the support surface.

14. A shower enclosure a claimed in claim 11, wherein the panel is connected to the floor by a foot member which extends between the panel and the floor.

15. A shower enclosure a claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel is manufactured from a plastics material.

16. A method of constructing a shower enclosure comprising the steps of: providing a support member; mounting the support member to a support surface; and mounting a panel below the support member so as to define a shower enclosure between the support surface and the panel.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of mounting the panel comprises the steps of mounting the panel to the support member and the support surface.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the step of mounting the panel includes the step of connecting the panel to a floor upon which the enclosure is provided.

19. A shower enclosure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.