GB2525236A

GB2525236A - A reinforcement block for the rim of a bath

Info

Publication number: GB2525236A
Application number: GB1406941.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Turner
Original assignee: TROJAN PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: TROJAN PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-04-17
Filing date: 2014-04-17
Publication date: 2015-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-17
Also published as: GB201406941D0; GB2525236B

Abstract

Disclosed is a reinforcement block 1 for the rim (21, Fig 2) of a bath (20, Fig 20). The reinforcement block comprises first and second spaced apart end faces 2, 3 and at least one side face 6, 7 extending therebetween, wherein the first end face 2 comprises a male connector 4 and the second end face 3 comprises a female connector 5. The male and female connectors are characterized in that they are adapted to inter-engage with the corresponding connector of an adjacent block 1. Preferably the side face 6, 7 comprises a further female connector. The block may comprise a top face with at least one precast hole (25, Fig 3). The block preferably includes a base face characterized by a portion of the base face to include a mesh 9 which comprises a plurality of apertures 10.

Description

I

A reinforcement block for the rim of a bath The present invention relates to a reinforcement block. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a reinforcement block comprising first and second spaced apart end faces, one end face having a male connector and the other end face having a female connector, the two connectors being adapted to interengage.

Manufacturers of acrylic baths tend to attach frames to the underside of a bath rim to reinforce the rim and prevent distortion. The frames are often set back slightly from the rim to allow side panels to be arranged between the rim and the frame or blocks.

Attaching such frames is often a time consuming process which increases the cost of manufacture of the bath. Frames have to be custom made for each size of bath with each type of bath requiring a different frame size.

The present invention seeks to overcome the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a reinforcement block for the rim of a bath, the reinforcement block comprising first and second spaced apart end faces and at least one side face extending therebetween; the first end face comprising a male connector and the second end face comprising a female connector; the male and female connectors being adapted to interengage.

The reinforcement blocks according to the invention can be connected together in a chain to the underside of the bath rim to form the frame. The male connector of one block is connected to the female connector of the adjacent block along the chain. There is no need to preassemble frames, the blocks are simply connected to the underside of the rim of each bath as required. This considerably simplifies the speed of manufacture of the frame and so reduces cost.

Preferably the side face comprises a further female connector. This allows one block to be connected to the next block at a right angle to form a corner when required.

Preferably the further female connector is closer to the second end face than the first end face.

Preferably the further female connector is spaced apart from the second end face by half the width of the first end face.

Preferably the side face comprises a further male connector.

Preferably) the further male connector is closer to the first end face than the second end face.

Preferably the further male connector is spaced from the first end face by half the width of the second end face.

Preferably the block is cubic or rectangular.

Preferably the block comprises atop face, the top lace comprising at least one precast hole.

Preferably the block comprises a base face, at least a portion of the base face being a mesh comprising a plurality of apertures.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1(a) and 1(b) show a reinforcement block according to the invention in perspective and side views; Figure 2 shows an acrylic bath from below including a plurality of reinforcement blocks of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a reinforcement block according to the invention in perspective view; and, Figure 4 shows a plurality of reinforcement blocks of figure 3 connected together to form a frame.

Figures 1(a) and 1(b) show a reinforcement block 1 according to the invention in perspective and side views. The reinforcement block 1 comprises first and second spaced apart end faces 2,3. The first end face 2 comprises a male connector 4. The second end face 3 comprises a female connector 5. The two connectors 4,5 are adapted to interengage. Extending between the end faces are side 6,7, top 8 and base 9 faces. In this embodiment the reinforcement block 1 is substantially rectangular. In an alternative embodiment the block 1 is cubic.

A portion of the base face 9 extends beyond the block las shown. This portion is a mesh comprising a plurality of apertures 10, the function of which is described below.

The female connector 5 comprises two portions -a slot portion 11 extending from the top face 8 part way to the bottom face 9 and recessed into the second end face 3; and protruding portion 12 extending from the base 9 along the second end face 3 to where it meets the slot portion 11 as shown. The male connector 4 also comprises slot and protruding portions 13,14 although in the reverse order. In use the protruding portion 14 of one of the connectors 4 is received in the slot portion 11 of the other connector Sand vice-versa.

Typically the block 1 is made of a resiliently deforniable material such as a plastics material so that the connectors 4,5 can be snapped together. Use of a plastics material has a further advantage over wooden frames. Acrylic baths are often stored in cold or alternatively humid conditions. If so the frame will warp and swell, so deforriiing the bath. Plastics blocks do not warp or swell in this way.

Figure 2 shows an acrylic bath 20 from below. The bath comprises a rim 21 and a bowl portion 22.

During manufacture the underside to the acrylic bath 20 is coated with a resin. The base face 9 of each reinforcement block 1 is pushed into the resin. The resin is squeezed through the apertures 10 in the mesh portion of the base face 9. As the resin hardens the block 1 becomes firmly attached to the underside of the bath 20.

The blocks 1 are attached with the female connector 5 of one block 1 attached to the male connector 4 of the next block 1 to produce long chains as shown. The chains act as a frame reinforcing the bath 20 and preventing distortion of the rim 21 of the bath 20.

Shown in figure 3 is a further embodiment of a reinforcement block 1 according to the invention.

This embodiment is similar to that of figures 1(a) and 1(b) except one of the side faces 6 further comprises further male and female connectors 23, 24 as shown. The further male connector 23 is arranged closer to the first end face 2 than the second 3. Similarly, the further female connector 24 is arranged closer to the second end face 3 than the first 2. Preferably, if the width of each of the end faces 2,3 is d' then each of the further connectors 23,24 is arranged a distance d/2' from the closest end face 2,3.

The top face 8 of block 1 of figure 3 also includes a plurality of pre-cast holes 25. These pre cast holes have a number of functions. In particular they can accept panel clips, housing sockets and direct fittings. The pre cast holes can accept a stacking block. Baths are often nested together during transit. The stacking block spaces the bath from the bath below in the stack so preventing damage.

The stacking block is removed from the reinforcement block 1 by the bath fitter when installing the bath.

Figure 4 shows a plurality of reinforcement blocks 1 of figure 3 connected together in plan view.

Again, the blocks 1 are connected in long chains to form a frame to reinforce the bath rim. In contrast to the blocks shown in figure 1 the blocks 1 can be connected to form corners so allowing a frame having more than one side to be constructed.

In alternative embodiments other types of male and female connectors 4,5 are possible. In one embodiment the female connector is a groove in one end face. The male connector is a protrusion in the other end face. In this embodiment the blocks 1 do not need to be snapped together) one block 1 can be slid into connection with the adjacent block 1 from above (akin to assembling a jigsaw).

Claims

CLAIMS1. A reinforcement block for the rim of a bath) the reinforcement block comprising first and second spaced apart end faces and at least one side face extending therebetween; the first end face comprising a male connector and the second end face comprising a female connector; the male and female connectors being adapted to interengage.
2. A reinforcement block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side face comprises a further female connector.
3. A reinforcement block as claimed in claim 2, wherein the further female connector is closer to the second end face than the first end face.
4. A reinforcement block as claimed in claim 3, wherein the further female connector is spaced apart from the second end face by half the width of the first end face.
S. A reinforcement block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side face comprises a further male connector.
6. A reinforcement block as claimed in claim 5, wherein the further male connector is closer to the first end face than the second end face.
7. A reinforcement block as claimed in claim 6, wherein the further male connector is spaced from the first end face by half the width of the second end face.
8. A reinforcement block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the block is cubic or rectangular.
9. A reinforcement block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, where the block comprises a top face) the top face comprising at least one precast hole.
10. A reinforcement block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, where the block comprises a base face) at least a portion of the base face being a mesh comprising a plurality of apertures.
11. A reinforcement block substantially as hereinbefore described.
12. A reinforcement block substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.