GB2520364A

GB2520364A - Device and method

Info

Publication number: GB2520364A
Application number: GB1321038.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Delaney
Original assignee: KASS BATHROOM PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: KASS BATHROOM PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-18
Filing date: 2013-11-28
Publication date: 2015-05-20
Also published as: GB201321038D0

Abstract

A hinge device for supporting a closure member comprises a support portion 315F attached to a rail portion 315RH. The rail is formed from an elongate element that is at least partially curved, and passes through the closure. The rail may be arcuate and may curve through an angle of at least thirty degrees. The device may comprise a traveller portion with a bearing part that moves with the closure member, sliding along the curve of the rail. The traveller may comprise a pair of plates 315D that are provided on opposite sides of the closure. The hinge device may comprise an adjustment portion that allows the distance between the support and the rail to be changed, enabling the closure to be hung vertically. The adjustment portion comprises first and second interengaging portions provided on the support and the rail respectively. The device may be used as part of a bath or shower unit.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to arrangements for hanging closure members such as doors.

In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to a hinge device for hanging a closure member.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide a shower door assembly by means of which a shower door may be mounted over a shower tray or bath.

FIG. 1 shows a known shower door assembly 1. As shown in FIG. 1(a) the assembly 1 includes a shower door 10 that is hingedly supported over a bath 7 by means of a pair of channel-section members 20, 40 formed from extruded aluminium. The door 10 may be formed from toughened glass, a plastics material or any other suitable material. First channel member 20 is attached to a supporting wall 5 by means of screw fixings. A channel 21 of the first channel member 20 faces away from the wall 5 and allows second channel member 40 to be inserted into the channel 21 in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis A of the first channel member 20. FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view of the assembly 1 viewed from above. The second channel member 40 is inserted into the channel 21 of the first member 20 and adjusted such that the second channel member 40 is substantially vertical. The first and second channel members 20, 40 are then fixedly coupled to one another by means of fixings 25 such as screw fixings. The door 10 is coupled to the second member 40 by means of hinge members 15.

A splashproof or waterproof seal 50 is optionally attached to a rear (trailing) edge 1 OT of the door 10 in order to inhibit water from passing through a gap between the door 10 and second channel member 40.

It is an aim of the present invention to address disadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention may be understood with reference to the appended claims.

Aspects of the present invention provide a hinge, a hinge in combination with a door, a shower door assembly, a shower unit, a bathroom, a building such as a hotel building or an apartment building and a method.

In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a hinge device for supporting a closure member, the hinge device comprising: a support portion; a rail portion configured to be supported by the support portion, the rail portion comprising an elongate, at least partially curved element configured to penetrate a closure member and to allow a closure member to be hung by the hinge device, the hinge device being configured to allow a closure member to swing in a hinged manner with respect to the support portion by movement of the closure member along a curved portion of the elongate, at least partially curved element.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that a relatively simple hinge device may be provided allowing a cost effective solution to the problem of hanging closure members such as doors, including shower or bath doors.

Hinge devices according to embodiments of the present invention may be provided that allow convenient coupling to closure members formed from materials to which attachment of known hinge devices can be problematic such as glass and plastics materials which may be brittle and/or be vulnerable to stress-induced cracking.

For example, embodiments of the present invention allow a closure member to be hung from anchor means such as a wall or other support structure with only a single aperture formed in the closure member per hinge device. The aperture allows the rail portion to penetrate, that is, pass through, the closure member. In contrast, in known hinge devices multiple apertures are required in order to allow fixings such as screws, bolts, rivets or the like to penetrate through the closure member to tix the hinge device to the closure member.

Optionally the elongate, at least partially curved element of the rail portion comprises a substantially arcuate portion.

Optionally the at least partially curved element is configured to curve through an angle of at least 30 degrees.

It is to be understood that the at least partially curved element may be configured to curve through any suitable angle greater than or less than 30 degrees. Optionally the at least partially curved element is configured to curve through an angle of at least 45 degrees, optionally at least 180 degrees.

Optionally, the hinge device is configured to support a closure member such that the closure member lies in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to a tangent to a curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion at a location at which the at least partially curved element passes through a closure member.

The device may further comprise a traveller portion arranged to move with a closure member along the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion, the traveller portion comprising a bearing portion arranged to be provided between the curved portion of the at least partially curved element and a closure member thereby to support a closure member.

The bearing portion may be configured to slide in contact with the curved portion of the at least partially curved element.

Optionally the traveller portion is arranged to be coupled to a closure member such that the traveller portion moves with the closure member.

The traveller portion may be configured to substantially surround the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion.

The traveller portion may be provided with an aperture therethrough arranged such that in use the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion passes through the aperture of the traveller portion.

Optionally, the traveller portion comprises a pair of plate elements arranged to be provided on opposite sides of a closure member, wherein the plate elements comprise the bearing portion.

The plate elements be arranged such that the plate elements themselves provide the bearing portion with no additional component.

Alternatively the plate elements may be provided with a bearing portion, for example a bearing element, optionally formed from a plastics material, preferably a plastics material having a relatively low surface coefficient between the bearing element and the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion.

Optionally each plate is provided with an aperture therethrough wherein in use the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion is arranged to pass through the aperture.

The device may comprise coupling means for coupling the hinge device to an anchor portion, optionally to a wall.

The support means may comprise the coupling means.

Optionally the coupling means comprises at least one aperture for coupling the hinge device to an anchor portion.

The device may comprise an adjustment portion arranged to allow adjustment of a distance between the support portion and the at least partially curved element of the rail portion, wherein a distance between an anchor to which the support portion is attached and a closure member may be changed.

This feature has the advantage that, where a plurality of hinge devices are coupled to a wall, beam or other substantially upright structure, a distance between the support portion of each hinge and the at least partially curved element of the rail portion of each hinge may be adjusted such that corresponding portions of the least partially curved element of each rail portion lie along a substantially vertical notional line.

In such a condition the hinge devices may be considered to be plumb. In some embodiments, a closure member supported by hinge devices that are plumb will rotate about a substantially vertical axis.

The adjustment portion may comprise first and second interengaging formations, the first formation being provided by the support portion, the second formation being provided by the rail portion.

Optionally, one of the interengaging formations comprises a female portion, and the other one of the interengaging formations comprises a male portion, wherein the male portion is arranged to be inserted into the female portion wherein the rail portion is supported by the support portion, the device being arranged to allow adjustment of the extent to which the male portion is inserted into the female portion to allow adjustment of the distance between the support portion and the at least partially curved element of the rail portion.

Optionally, the support portion comprises the female portion and the male portion is provided by the rail portion, optionally by a free end of the rail portion.

The support portion may comprise a pair of female portions and the corresponding male portions may be provided by the rail portion, optionally by a pair of free ends of the rail portion.

In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a closure assembly comprising at least one device according to a preceding aspect and a closure member.

The elongate, at least partially curved element may be disposed in a plane substantially normal to a plane of the closure member.

The closure assembly may comprise a plurality of hinge devices provided at spaced apart locations with respect to the closure member.

The plurality of hinge devices may be provided in a substantially linear arrangement along a free edge of the closure member.

The plurality of hinge devices may line on a notional substantially vertical line or a notional substantially horizontal line. Other arrangements are also useful.

In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a bath or shower unit comprising a bath or shower and at least one closure assembly according to a preceding aspect.

In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a bathroom comprising a closure assembly or a bath or shower unit according to a preceding aspect.

In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a building comprising a bath or shower unit according to a preceding aspect or a bathroom according to a preceding aspect.

In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a hotel building or an apartment building comprising a plurality of bathrooms according to a preceding aspect.

In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a method of hingedly supporting a closure member, comprising: supporting a rail portion by means of a support portion whereby the rail portion penetrates the closure member to allow the closure member to be hung, and allowing the closure member to swing in a hinged manner with respect to the support portion by movement of the closure member along a curved portion of an elongate, at least partially curved element of the rail portion.

The method may comprise allowing the closure member to swing in a hinged manner along a curved portion of each of a plurality of respective elongate, at least partially curved elements provided at spaced apart locations along an edge of the closure member.

It is to be understood that a plurality of respective elongate, at least partially curved elements may be required in order to hingedly support a closure member in some embodiments, rather than just one elongate, at least partially curved element.

The method may comprise adjusting a distance between the curved portion of the elongate, at least partially curved element of the rail portion and the support portion.

This feature allows a closure member to be adjusted so that it swings about a substantially vertical axis even if a wall to which the support members are attached is not precisely vertical.

In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a shower door assembly comprising: a door member; a substantially elongate wall member arranged to be attached to a wall; at least one hinge member arranged to be attached to the door member and to the wall or to the wall member thereby to allow the door member to move in a hinged manner with respect to the wall; and barrier means for providing a barrier to passage of water between the door member and wall member, wherein the hinge member is provided with adjustment means, the adjustment means being configured to allow a distance between the door member and wall member to be adjusted thereby to allow adjustment of the door member to a plumb condition.

It is to be understood that the shower door assembly may be arranged such that the wall member is substantially parallel to an edge of the door member facing the wall. By substantially parallel is included a deviation from an exactly parallel arrangement due to the wall not being precisely vertical. It is to be understood that an important aim of embodiments of the present invention is to allow a shower door to be hingedly mounted to a wall such that the shower door is plumb, i.e. the door is hinged such that an axis or rotation of the door is substantially vertical. This feature has the advantage that the door will not move under gravity when placed in a required position, whether open or closed with respect to a shower or bath.

Optionally, the wall member is arranged to be coupled substantially directly to the barrier means.

Optionally, the wall member is provided by a substantially unitary component.

Optionally, the wall member and barrier means are provided by a single component.

The wall member and barrier means may be integrally formed as a single component.

The wall member and barrier means may for example be provided by a substantially unitary component formed by extrusion.

The wall member may comprise hinge support means for supporting the at least one hinge member.

Optionally the hinge support means comprises a hinge support portion.

Optionally, the hinge support portion comprises at least one hooked feature by means of which a hinge member may be supported.

The hinge member may be arranged to be attached substantially directly to a supporting wall with which the wall member is placed in abutment.

The hinge member may comprise a hinge support portion arranged to be attached to a supporting wall, and a hinge portion arranged to be attached to the hinge support portion, the hinge member being arranged to allow the relative positions of the hinge support portion and hinge portion to be adjusted thereby to provide the adjustment means.

Optionally the relative positions of the hinge support portion and hinge portion are arranged to be adjusted by sliding the hinge portion relative to the hinge support portion.

The hinge member may comprises a hoop portion arranged to pass through an aperture in the door member, wherein the door member may slide over the hoop portion to allow the door member to move in a hinged manner with respect to the wall.

The barrier means may comprise a flexible member, the barrier means being arranged to be attached to a trailing edge of the door member facing the wall member along at least a portion of a length of the door member.

The barrier means may be further arranged to be attached to the wall member along at least a portion of a length thereof, the flexible member being arranged to flex when the door member is swung.

In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a shower unit comprising an assembly according to a preceding aspect.

In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a bathroom comprising a shower unit according to a preceding aspect.

In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a building comprising a bathroom according to a preceding aspect.

In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a hotel building or an apartment building comprising a plurality of bathrooms according to a preceding aspect.

In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a method of installing a shower door assembly comprising: providing a door member; providing a substantially elongate wall member and attaching the wall member to a wall; providing at least one hinge member and attaching the hinge member to the door member and to the wall or to the wall member thereby to allow the door to move in a hinged manner with respect to the wall; and providing barrier means to provide a barrier to passage of water between the door member and wall member, the method further comprising adjusting by means of adjustment means of the hinge member a distance between the door member and wall member whereby the door assumes a plumb condition.

In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a shower door assembly comprising: a door member; a wall member arranged to be attached to a wall; at least one hinge member arranged to be attached to the door member and to the wall or to the wall member thereby to allow the door to move in a hinged manner with respect to the wall; and barrier means for providing a barrier to passage of water between the door member and wall member, wherein the hinge member is provided with adjustment means, the adjustment means being configured to allow a distance between the door member and wall member to be adjusted thereby to allow adjustment of the door to a plumb condition.

By plumb condition is meant a condition in which an axis about which the door swings is substantially vertical.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that a shower door assembly may be provided having a reduced number of components. The assembly may be made using less expensive components in some embodiments. Some embodiments of the invention provide more convenient plumb adjustment functionality compared with known assemblies, which rely on permanent fixings through overlapping channel section members as described with respect to FIG. 1.

Optionally, the wall member comprises an elongate member arranged to be coupled directly to the wall. The elongate member may be arranged to be coupled directly to the barrier means. Optionally the elongate member is coupled substantially directly to the barrier means. Further optionally the elongate member is integrally formed with the barrier means.

The elongate member and barrier means may be formed from substantially the same component, for example a single moulding or extrusion.

The wall member may be provided by a substantially unitary component. This is in contrast to the known arrangement of FIG. 1 where two overlapping components are required.

It is to be understood that the wall member may be substantially in the form of a single channel section that does not allow for plumb adjustment. Rather, plumb adjustment may be provided by the adjustment means of the at least one hinge member.

Optionally the wall member comprises hinge support means for supporting the at least one hinge member.

Thus in some embodiments the wall member may be arranged to support the hinge support means. In some alternative embodiments the hinge support means may be arranged to be coupled directly to a wall. The wall may be a wall of a building such as a wall of a bathroom of a house, apartment or hotel in which the assembly is provided.

Optionally the hinge support means comprises a hinge support member. The hinge support means may be integrally formed with the wall member. Alternatively the hinge support means may be in the form of a separate component that is attached to the wall member.

The hinge support means may be arranged to be attached substantially directly to the wall.

The wall member may be a separate component that is attached to or provided in abutment with the wall independently of the hinge support means. As noted above, the wall member and barrier means may be provided by a single component, the wall member being attached to or provided in abutment with the wall, the barrier means being arranged to seal to the door member.

The hinge support member may comprise at least one hooked feature.

The hooked feature may be a hook member or any other suitable feature.

Alternatively or in addition the hinge support member may be arranged to allow the Optionally the hinge member is arranged to be attached to a supporting wall with which the wall member is placed in abutment. The hinge member may be arranged to be directly attached. Optionally the wall member may be provided with pre-formed holes for fixing elements to pass from the hinge member through into the wall for mounting the hinge member. Alternatively or in addition, markings or other means may be provided by which an installer may ensure that the hinge members are provided at prescribed locations with respect to the wall member. This has the advantage that when the door assembly is installed over a bath, shower tray or other location, a height of the door above the bath or shower tray may be conveniently arranged to be a prescribed height. A lower end of the wall member may be arranged to abut the bath or shower tray.

Optionally the barrier means comprises a flexible member, the barrier means being arranged to be attached to a trailing edge of the door facing the wall member along at least a portion of a length of the door.

Optionally, the barrier means is further arranged to be attached to the wall member along at least a portion of a length thereof, the flexible member being arranged to flex when the door is swung.

In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a shower unit comprising an assembly according to a preceding aspect.

In a still further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a bathroom comprising a shower unit according to a preceding aspect.

In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a building comprising a bathroom according to a preceding aspect.

In a still further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a method of installing a shower door assembly comprising: providing a door member; providing a wall member and attaching the wall member to a wall; providing at least one hinge member and attaching the hinge member to the door member and to the wall or to the wall member thereby to allow the door to move in a hinged manner with respect to the wall; and providing barrier means to provide a barrier to passage of water between the door member and wall member, the method further comprising adjusting by means of adjustment means of the hinge member a distance between the door member and wall member whereby the door assumes a plumb condition.

Within the scope of this application it is envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives, and in particular the individual features thereof, set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, may be taken independently or in any combination. For example features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a known shower door assembly in (a) side view and (b) cross-section viewed from above; FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of a shower door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention in (a) side view and (b) cross-section viewed from above; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of a shower door assembly according to a further embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 is a 3D view of a hinge member of the assembly of the embodiment of FIG. 3; FIGURE 5 shows (a) a perspective view of a shower door assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention; (b) a cross-section through a door member, support plates and hoop member of the embodiment shown in (a);(c) a perspective view of a baseplate of a hinge support member of the embodiment shown in (a); (d) a perspective view of a hinge member of the embodiment shown in (a); and (e) an end-view of a seal member of the embodiment shown in (a); FIGURE 6 shows (a) a top view of the baseplate of the hinge support member and hinge member of FIG. 5 during assembly, and (b) a side view of the baseplate of the hinge support member of FIG. 5; and FIGURE 7 shows (a) an alternative design of door support plate for use in an embodiment and (b) a further alternative design of door support plate for use in an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows a shower door assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2(a) the assembly 100 includes a door 110, a wall member 120, a pair of hinge members 115 and a barrier member 150.

The wall member 120 is in the form of a substantially U-shaped channel section and is arranged to be fixedly attached to wall 105 by means of screw fixing elements. It is anticipated that a sealant such as silicone sealant may be employed to seal the wall member 120 to the wall 105, to prevent seepage of water between the wall 105 and wall member 120. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the wall member 120 is formed from an extruded plastics material although other materials are also useful.

The wall member 120 bears two hinge support members 120H within the channel section thereof to which the hinge members 115 are attached. The hinge members 115 are arranged to hook onto the hinge support members 120H. In some embodiments the hinge members 115 may be arranged to be fixed to the hinge support members 120H by means of fixings such as screw fixings. The hinge support members 120H are provided at substantially fixed (and optionally predetermined) positions along the wall member 120. In some embodiments the hinge support members 120H are integrally moulded with the wall member 120, whilst in some arrangements the hinge support members 120H are formed separately and attached to the wall member 120.

The hinge support members 120H are provided at locations along the wall member 120 such that if a lower end of the wall member 120 is placed in abutment with an upper surface of a bath 107 or shower tray, and a door 110 subsequently hung by means of hinge members 115 from the hinge support members 1 20H, vertical adjustment of the door 110 is not required. In some embodiments holes may be pre-drilled in the door 110 to enable the hinge members 115 to be attached to the door 110 at predetermined locations.

The hinge members 115 are provided with plumb-adjustment functionality. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the hinge members 115 have adjuster screws liSA (FIG.

2(b)) allowing lateral movement of a pivot liSP of each hinge member 115 through which an axis of rotation of the hinge member 115 passes. This allows plumb adjustment of the door 110 to be performed.

In the embodiment shown, the hinge members 115 have a first portion 11SF that is attached to a respective hinge support member 120H and a second portion 115D that is fixed to the door 110. The first and second portions are pivotably connected by pivot 11 5P. The first portion 11SF is arranged whereby when adjuster screw liSA is turned, the pivot 11 5P is moved away from or towards the first portion 1 15F depending on the direction of turn of the screw liSA, allowing plumb adjustment of the door 110. Other arrangements are also useful.

A flexible seal member 150 in the form of a strip of an extruded polymer material such as a polythene, polyethene or other flexible polymer material is provided to seal a gap between the door 110 and wall member 120. The seal member 150 has first and second coupling elements 1 SOP, 1 50U provided along opposed longitudinal edges thereof with a seal portion 1 50Z disposed therebetween. The coupling elements 1 SOP, 1 50U and seal portion 1 SOZ are formed from a single extrusion. In some embodiments one or more of the coupling elements 1SOP, 150U and seal portion 1SOZ may be formed separately and joined in a joining operation.

The first coupling element 150P has a substantially square cross-section and is arranged to be inserted into and held by the channel section of the wall member 120. The second coupling element 1 50U has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and is arranged to grip a trailing edge 11 OT of the door 110.

The seal portion 150Z joins the first and second portions 150P, 150U and has a cross-section having a substantially corrugated shape, for example in the form of a zig-zag or concertina shape. This arrangement allows lateral flexing of the seal member 150 as well as lateral expansion and contraction in order to accommodate any variation in distance between the trailing edge 11 UT of the door 110 and the wall member 120 in use.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that a cost of installing a shower door over a bath or shower tray may be reduced considerably. This is at least in part because an amount of aluminium metal required may be reduced considerably, if not entirely in some embodiments. By forming the wall member 120 from a plastics material, the pair of channel-section members 20, 40 formed from extruded aluminium used in the known arrangement of FIG. 1 may be eliminated, reducing substantially the cost of the assembly.

Furthermore, plumb adjustment may be performed in a more convenient manner because it is not necessary to drill holes through the pair of channel-section members 20, 40 and screw a fixing element through them. In some embodiments, if plumb adjustment is required post-installation, this may be readily performed by adjustment of the hinge member 115. In contrast, the known shower door assembly of FIG. 1 would require re-drilling of the first and second members 20, 40.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a shower door assembly 200 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Like features of the embodiment of FIG. 3 to the embodiment of FIG. 2 are shown with like reference signs prefixed numeral 2 instead of numeral 1. FIG. 4 is a 3D view of hinge member 215 showing an internal structure thereof.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 hinge member 215 has a first portion 215F that protrudes into channel 220C defined by wall member 220 in a similar manner to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

However, a second portion 215D of the hinge member 215 is arranged to lie against a face of shower door 210.

The first portion 21SF of hinge member 215 has an inner body portion 2151 and an outer sleeve portion 215S that fits within the channel section of the wall member 220. The sleeve portion 215S is arranged to slide over the inner body portion 2151 in a substantially horizontal plane, the relative positions of the sleeve portion 215S and inner body portion 2151 being adjustable by means of screw adjuster 215A. Screw adjuster 215A also lies in a substantially horizontal plane and passes through the outer sleeve portion 215S and a S tapped plate 21ST fixedly attached to a hooked member 215H of the inner body portion 2151. Rotation of the screw adjuster 215A causes the plate 2151 and therefore the hooked member 215H to move with respect to the outer sleeve portion 215S, allowing a range of overlap of inner body portion 2151 and outer sleeve portion 21 5S to be adjusted.

The hooked member 215H is arranged to hook onto a bracket 270 that is secured to the wall 205 to which the wall member 220 is secured. The bracket 270 is positioned within the channel section of the wall member 220. The bracket 270 may in some embodiments be integrally formed with the wall member 220.

The inner body portion 2151 has an aperture 21 SAP in a lower face thereof that is arranged to receive the bracket 270 when the inner body portion 2151 is slid downwardly over the bracket 270. The hooked member 215H is arranged to rest between the bracket 270 and wall 205 in use, thereby supporting the hinge member 215 in a substantially fixed position.

In the embodiment shown, the hinge member 215 is arranged to allow a screw fixing element 21SSC to be inserted through the inner sleeve portion 2151 to secure hooked member 21SH to the bracket 270. This feature allows an installer to prevent unintentional detachment of the hinge member 215 from the bracket 270 in service.

Pivot 21SF of the hinge member 215 is coupled to the outer sleeve portion 215S of the hinge member 215 and second portion 215D. Accordingly, adjustment of the range of overlap of the outer sleeve potion 215S and inner body portion 2151 allows plumb adjustment of the door 210 to be performed.

A flexible seal member 250 is provided that is arranged to form a seal between wall member 220 and door 210 in a similar manner to the seal member 150 of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

Other arrangements are also useful.

FIG. 5 shows a shower door assembly 300 according to a further embodiment of the invention. Like features of the embodiment of FIG. 5 to those of the embodiment of FIG. 3 are shown with like reference signs prefixed numeral 3 instead of numeral 2.

The assembly 300 has a hinge support member 31SF as shown in FIG. 5(a) and (c) that is arranged to be coupled directly to a wall by means of a screw fixing that is passed through an aperture 315FA formed in a baseplate 315FB of the hinge support member 31SF. The hinge support member 315F has a pair of hollow socket elements 315FS that are upstanding from the baseplate 315FB (FIG. 6(b)). The socket elements 3156 are arranged to receive respective plug elements 315RF of hinge member 315R.

The hinge member 315R is in the form of a substantially circular hoop member 315RH having a pair of substantially parallel plug elements 31SRP provided at 1 o'clock and iloclock positions respectively. The plug elements 315RP point in a direction away from the hoop member 31 SRH.

The plug elements 31SRP are slidingly received in the socket elements 315S of the support member 31SF (FIG. 6(a)) and secured to the support member 31SF by means of screw fixings that pass through tapped apertures 31SFSA in the socket elements 3156 oriented radially of longitudinal axes of the socket elements 3156. In use, the support member 31SF is attached to a wall such that baseplate 315FB is substantially parallel to a plane of the wall. The socket elements 3156 are therefore oriented substantially normal to the wall and support the hoop member 315RH in a substantially horizontal plane. The distance of the hoop member 315RH from the wall is adjusted by sliding the hinge member 315R toward or away from the support member 31SF and then tightening a fixing element passing through each aperture 315FSA against the respective plug element 315RP.

The hinge member 315R is arranged to support a pair of door support plates 315D each of which has an aperture through which the hoop member 315RH of the hinge member 315R is arranged to pass. The support plates 315D are fixedly attached to door member 310 and provide a reinforcement for the door member 310 to allow the door member 310 to swing around the hoop member 315RH. supported by the support plates 315D. FIG. 5(b) is a cross-sectional view of door member 310 showing the relative positions of the door member 310, support plates 315D and hoop member 31SRH where the hoop member 315RH passes through the support plates 315D and door member 310. The support plates may be considered to define a traveller portion of the assembly 300, since the support plates move in a course fixed by the hoop member 31 5RH.

In some embodiments a bearing formed from a low-friction material such as a Teflon (RIM), PTFE or other polymer material is provided between the hoop member 31SRH and door member 310 and/or support plates 315D thereby to facilitate swinging of the door member 310 with respect to the hoop member 31 5RH.

The assembly also has a flexible seal member 350 for providing a substantially waterproof seal between the door member 310 and wall. The seal member 350 has first and second elongate coupling elements 350P, 350U and an elongate seal portion 150Z disposed therebetween. The coupling elements 350P, 350U and seal portion 350Z are formed from a single extrusion. In some embodiments one or more of the coupling elements 350P, 350U and seal portion 350Z may be formed separately and joined in a joining operation.

The first coupling element 350P has a substantially elongate, rectangular cross-section and is arranged to be coupled directly to a wall along a free longitudinal edge thereof. The first coupling element 350P may therefore also be considered to be a wall member corresponding to wall member 120 of the embodiment of FIG. 2. The second coupling element 350U has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and is arranged to grip a trailing edge 310T of the door 310.

The seal portion 350Z joins the first and second portions 350P, 350U and has a cross-section having a substantially corrugated shape, for example in the form of a zig-zag or concertina shape. This arrangement allows lateral flexing of the seal member 350 as well as lateral expansion and contraction in order to accommodate any variation in distance between the trailing edge 3101 of the door 310 and the first coupling element 350P in use.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 and FIG. S has the advantage that wall member 120 of the embodiment of FIG. 2 is not required. This is at least in part because the first portion 350P of the seal member 350 of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is coupled directly to the wall. A sealant such as an adhesive, optionally a silicone sealant, may be used to provide a watertight seal between the first portion 350P and the wall to accommodate any unevenness of the wall resulting in a gap between the first portion 350P and wall.

Furthermore, the hinge support member 31SF is arranged to be coupled substantially directly to the wall, rather than to a wall member.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 5(a), a portion of the first portion 350P of the seal member 350 is cut away where the first portion 350P abuts the hinge support member 31SF, to form a cut-away portion 315PC or recess in the first portion 350P. This allows the first portion 350P to be provided in substantially direct contact with the wall (albeit optionally with a layer of adhesive, sealant or the like between the first portion and wall) along substantially the whole of its length with the exception of the locations at which the hinge support members 315P are provided.

FIG. 7 illustrates two alternative designs of door support plates 41 SD, 51 SD for use in embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 7(a) shows a door support plate 415D having a substantially U-shaped aperture that extends to a free edge 415DE of the plate 415D. An aperture formed in the door member 410 having a shape corresponding to that of a cross-section of the hoop member 315RH is shown at 410A. FIG. 7(b) shows a door support plate 510 having a substantially C-shaped aperture or cut-out at a free edge 51SDE of the plate 510. Other arrangements are also useful. Other forms of traveller portion are also useful.

For example in some embodiments the traveller portion may be arranged to pass through the aperture 410A, 510A in the door member 410, 510. For example the traveller portion may be in the form of a pair of members on opposite sides of the door member, that are joined to one another to form the traveller portion. Other arrangements are also useful.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A hinge device for supporting a closure member, the hinge device comprising: a support portion; a rail portion configured to be supported by the support portion, the rail portion comprising an elongate, at least partially curved element configured to penetrate a closure member and to allow a closure member to be hung by the hinge device, the hinge device being configured to allow a closure member to swing in a hinged manner with respect to the support portion by movement of the closure member along a curved portion of the elongate, at least partially curved element.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the elongate, at least partially curved element of the rail portion comprises a substantially arcuate portion.
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the at least partially curved element is configured to curve through an angle of at least 30 degrees.
4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the hinge device is configured to support a closure member such that the closure member is substantially orthogonal to a tangent to a curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion at a location at which the at least partially curved element passes through a closure member.
5. A device according to any preceding claim further comprising a traveller portion arranged to move with a closure member along the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion, the traveller portion comprising a bearing portion arranged to be provided between the curved portion of the at least partially curved element and a closure member thereby to support a closure member.
6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the bearing portion is configured to slide in contact with the curved portion of the at least partially curved element.
7. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the traveller portion is arranged to be coupled to a closure member such that the traveller portion moves with the closure member.
8. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the traveller portion is configured to substantially surround the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion.
9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the traveller portion is provided with an aperture therethrough arranged such that in use the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion passes through the aperture of the traveller portion.
10. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein the traveller portion comprises a pair of plate elements arranged to be provided on opposite sides of a closure member, wherein the plate elements comprise the bearing portion.
11. A device according to claim 10 wherein each plate is provided with an aperture therethrough wherein in use the curved portion of the at least partially curved element of the rail portion is arranged to pass through the aperture.
12. A device according to any preceding claim comprising coupling means for coupling the hinge device to an anchor portion, optionally to a wall.
13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the support means comprises the coupling means.
14. A device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the coupling means comprises at least one aperture for coupling the hinge device to an anchor portion.
15. A device according to any preceding claim comprising an adjustment portion arranged to allow adjustment of a distance between the support portion and the at least partially curved element of the rail portion, wherein a distance between an anchor to which the support portion is attached and a closure member may be changed.
16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the adjustment portion comprises first and second interengaging formations, the first formation being provided by the support portion.the second formation being provided by the rail portion.
17. A device according to claim 16 wherein one of the interengaging formations comprises a female portion, and the other one of the interengaging formations comprises a male portion, wherein the male portion is arranged to be inserted into the female portion wherein the rail portion is supported by the support portion, the device being arranged to allow adjustment of the extent to which the male portion is inserted into the female portion to allow adjustment of the distance between the support portion and the at least partially curved element of the rail portion.
18. A device according to claim 17 wherein support portion comprises the female portion and the male portion is provided by the rail portion, optionally by a free end of the rail portion.
19. A device according to claim 18 wherein the support portion comprises a pair of female portions and the corresponding male portions are provided by the rail portion, optionally by a pair of free ends of the rail portion.
20. A closure assembly comprising at least one device according to any preceding claims and a closure member.
21. A closure assembly according to claim 20 wherein the elongate, at least partially curved element is disposed in a plane substantially normal to a plane of the closure member.
22. A closure assembly according to claim 20 or 21 comprising a plurality of hinge devices provided at spaced apart locations with respect to the closure member.
23. A closure assembly according to claim 22 wherein the plurality of hinge devices are provided in a substantially linear arrangement along a free edge of the closure member.
24. A bath or shower unit comprising a bath or shower and at least one closure assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 23.
25. A bathroom comprising a closure assembly according to any one of claims 20 to 23 or a bath or shower unit according to claim 19.
26. A building comprising a bath or shower unit according to claim 24 or a bathroom according to claim 25.
27. A hotel building or an apartment building comprising a plurality of bathrooms according to claim 25.
28. A method of hingedly supporting a closure member, comprising: supporting a rail portion by means of a support portion whereby the rail portion penetrates the closure member to allow the closure member to be hung, and allowing the closure member to swing in a hinged manner with respect to the support portion by movement of the closure member along a curved portion of an elongate, at least partially curved element of the rail portion.
29. A method according to claim 28 comprising allowing the closure member to swing in a hinged manner along a curved portion of each of a plurality of respective elongate, at least partially curved elements provided at spaced apart locations along an edge of the closure member.
30. A method according to claim 28 or 29 comprising adjusting a distance between the curved portion of the elongate, at least partially curved element of the rail portion and the support portion.
31. An assembly, shower unit, bathroom, building or method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of FIG.'s 5 to 7.