GB2538291A

GB2538291A - Shower enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2538291A
Application number: GB1508317.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheng Henry
Original assignee: EILUMINA RESOURCES
Current assignee: EILUMINA RESOURCES
Priority date: 2015-05-15
Filing date: 2015-05-15
Publication date: 2016-11-16
Also published as: GB201508317D0

Abstract

A modular shower enclosure that can be installed at the corner of two existing walls within a bathroom comprising two vertical wall frames (jambs), headers, sills and a roller guide. The vertical frame within the shower enclosure, i.e. wall jamb is inter-facing with the two existing corner walls of the bathroom. The wall jamb will preferably be adjustable accordingly to the wall surface undulation. The wall jambs will preferably have two adjustable bolts that fasten the outer frame to the core internal part of the wall frame. By adjusting the adjustable bolt on the wall jamb, the user can easily adjust the outer frame to the core internal part of the vertical wall frame, hence compensating for any difference in the wall surface undulation.

Description

SHOWER ENCLOSURE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention here relates to shower enclosure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular shower enclosure that can be installed at the corner of two existing walls within a bathroom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, a modular shower enclosure can be installed at the corner of two existing walls within a bathroom, whereby typically the enclosure extends between the floor and ceiling of a bathroom. For such a typical design, usually it is quite common to have the shower enclosure via means of a partition-like structure having two sides, whereby one of the partition side extends out from one corner of the wall and the other partition side extends from the other corner of the other wall. The two partition sides will then meet and are connected by some form or means of a vertical corner.

Hence typically such a conventional shower enclosure would include the following key components: 1. Wall jamb, i.e. the vertical wall frame 4 At least two (2) wall jambs for the two (2) existing corner walls within a bathroom.

2. Vertical corner frame or post 3. A pair of horizontal bottom frames, i.e. sills 4. A pair of horizontal upper frames, i.e. headers 5. Glass or plastic panel that extend between the sills and the headers For such a typical shower enclosure feature mentioned in the above-paragraph, one of the main issues would be to ensure that the wall jamb is able to be fixed on all sorts of wall. Ideally, the wall will have to be totally flat and straight but in actual fact, there are variations in the wall surface undulation. This would mean having an adjustable wall jamb to compensate for the different wall surface undulation. Moreover, having an adjustable wall jamb would also mean using less quantity of sealing agent for a water tight seal between the wall jamb and the wall.

There are configurations out there in the prior art for adjustable wall jamb. However some do need prior drilling and additional screws or fasteners for such adjustments, which can be a bit quite tedious, time-consuming and expensive during installation. Kohler's US 6,023,889 discloses an adjustable wall jamb which can compensate for variations in wall structures. However the design can be complex to fabricate and to install.

Hence the purpose of the embodiment in the present invention is to create a modular shower enclosure that is low cost, and simple to assemble and install. It is modular as the parts and frame can be easily assemble and disassemble without much difficulty, thus making it easier to be packed and stacked together like a flat-pack for ease of carrying and shipping. It eliminates the need for drilling of screws which can be quite time-consuming. The individual upper and bottom horizontal frames can be easily fabricated by the manufacturer using suitable lightweight metal material or other tough but light and durable material. Moreover the individual components that helped to secure the frames together are also easily fabricated. With its modularity structure and ease of assembly, it is targeting at consumers who are more hands on in nature and with a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mentality or culture.

Accordingly, the embodiment in the present invention is more for installation at the corner of two existing walls. The key components consist of the following: 1. At least two (2) vertical wall frame (i.e. wall jamb) that is for the two (2) existing corner walls of the bathroom; whereby the vertical wall frame consists of a core internal part, and an outer frame overlapping the core internal part; 2. At least a pair of horizontal top frames, i.e. headers; 3. At least a pair of horizontal bottom frames, i.e. sills; 4. Roller catch for holding the glass or plastic panel onto the sills and headers.

For the vertical wall frame i.e. wall iamb it is supposed to be inter-facing with the two (2) existing corner walls of the bathroom. The wall jamb is adjustable accordingly to the wall surface undulation, hence minimizing the quantity of sealing agent to be used between the wall jamb and the wall. Essentially the vertical wall frame, i.e. wall jamb has two (2) adjustable bolts that fasten the adjustable outer frame to the core internal part of the vertical wall frame. By adjusting (either tightening or loosening) the adjustable bolt, the user can easily adjust the outer frame to the core internal part of the vertical wall frame, hence compensating for any difference in the wall surface undulation.

The top part of the vertical wall frame, i.e. wall jamb, with its latch (female slot) is affixed to one corresponding protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header). Similarly, the bottom part of the vertical wall frame, i.e. wall jamb, with its latch (female slot) is affixed to one corresponding protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal bottom frame (i.e. sill). A small locking mechanism is then being used to secure the connection of the wall jamb with the corresponding end so that it is secured fully in place and to prevent it from moving.

The other corresponding end of the top frame (i.e. header) and the other corresponding end of the bottom frame (i.e. sill) both have a protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end). They are supposed to join to the protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) of the other corresponding end of the second top frame (i.e. header) and the other corresponding end of the second bottom frame (i.e. sill) respectively. Thus this forms an intersection for the overall shower enclosure. A bracket catch is then inserted at this intersection for a nice and secure fit in order to prevent any unnecessary movement at the intersection.

There are roller guides along the bottom and top sills and headers to accommodate the installation of sliding shower panel or shower door, which can typically be made of tampered glass or plastic. The roller guides can enable two (2) sliding shower panel / door to be installed on one side of the shower enclosure, such that the two (2) shower panel / door would not clash onto each other due to misalignment. The roller guide has a spring mechanism to enable the sliding shower panel or shower door to be easily mounted in between the bottom and top sills and headers. The spring mechanism is better than the conventional design which is typically screw thread driven and is fixed and not so easily adjustable without the need of external tools. In addition, the roller guide is a quick release wheel system whereby the design of the roller guide will enable the packing of the whole shower enclosure to be more compact and hence allowing 30% increase in quantity per container for shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings attached here are to aid in better understand the description of the invention here. The drawings are not to scale and they are to be used for merely illustrating the principles and concepts of the invention.

To aid in the description of the invention, the drawings are broken up into the various Figures as described below: Fig 1A illustrates a perspective view of the different individual parts or components of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 1B illustrates another perspective view of the different individual parts or components of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig 2 illustrates a perspective view of a stand-alone vertical wall frame (i.e. wall jamb). Fig 3A and Fig 3B illustrates how the adjustable bolt can easily lock the adjustable outer frame with the core internal part of the vertical wall frame to compensate for any difference in the wall surface undulation Fig 4 illustrates a close-up view of the latch (female slot) on the core internal part of the vertical wall frame.

Fig 5A -5D illustrates the different sequences of how the latch (female slot) on the top part of the vertical wall frame is affixed to one corresponding protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header).

Fig 6A illustrates a perspective view of the protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header).

Fig 6B illustrates a close-up perspective view of the protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header) as well as the small locking mechanism.

Fig 6C illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the top frame (i.e. header), with protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end).

Fig 7A illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the top frame (i.e. header), with protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) facing the protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) of the other corresponding end of the second top frame (i.e. header).

Fig 7B illustrates another close-up perspective view of how the top frame (i.e. header), with protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) is affixed to the protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) of the other corresponding end of the second top frame (i.e. header) Fig 8A illustrates a perspective view of the protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal bottom frame (i.e. sill).

Fig 8B illustrates a close-up perspective view of the protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal bottom frame (i.e. sill).

Fig 8C illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) of the horizontal bottom frame (i.e. sill). Fig 9A illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the bottom frame (i.e. sill), with protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) facing the protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) of the other corresponding end of the second bottom frame (i.e. sill).

Fig 9B illustrates another close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the bottom frame (i.e. sill), with protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) is affixed to the protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) of the other corresponding end of the second bottom frame (i.e. sill).

Fig 10 illustrates the different perspective views of the bracket catch.

Fig 11 illustrates a perspective view of the roller guide with the roller wheels.

Reference numbers 1 Shower Enclosure 2a Header 2b Header 3a Sill 3b Sill 4 Vertical Wall Frame, i.e. wall jamb

Adjustable Bolt

6 Small Locking Mechanism 7 Bracket Catch 8 Roller Guide 8a Spring Mechanism 8b Connecting Body 8c Roller Wheel 8d Unit Body 8e Unit Body 9 Core internal part of the vertical wall frame.

Adjustable Outer Frame (Vertical Wall Frame) 11 Latch (female slot) 12 Protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header) 13 Protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) 14 Protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) Protruding latch (male end) 16 Protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) 17 Protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following description, details are provided to describe the embodiment of the application. It shall be apparent to the person skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such details.

The present invention relates to shower enclosure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular shower enclosure that can be installed at the corner of two existing walls within a bathroom.

Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of the different individual parts or components of the embodiment of the present invention. Essentially, it is a shower enclosure 1 with the key components consisting of the following: (a) At least two (2) vertical wall frame (i.e. wall jamb) denoted as 4, that is for the two (2) existing corner walls of the bathroom; whereby the vertical wall frame 4 as shown in Figure 2, consists of a core internal part 9, and an outer frame 10 overlapping the core internal part 9; and whereby there is an adjustable bolt 5 that can easily lock the adjustable outer frame 10 with the core internal part 9 of the vertical wall frame 4; (b) At least a pair of horizontal top frames, i.e. headers, denoted as 2a and 2b in Figure 1; (c) At least a pair of horizontal bottom frames, i.e. sills, denoted as 3a and 3b in Figure 1; (d) Roller guide 8 for holding the glass or plastic panel onto the headers and sills.

Figure 1A also illustrates a small locking mechanism denoted as 6, which is being used to secure the connection of the vertical wall frame, i.e. wall jamb 4 with the corresponding ends of both the headers 2a and 2b and the sills 3a and 3b so that these are secured fully in place and to prevent them from moving. As illustrated in Figure 1A, a bracket catch 7 is inserted at the intersection of the headers and sills for a nice and secure fit in order to prevent any unnecessary movement at the intersection.

Figure 1B illustrates another perspective view of the different individual parts or components of the embodiment of the present invention i.e. the shower enclosure 1. It illustrates another view of the bracket catch 7 being inserted at the intersection of the headers and sills for a nice secure fit and also to prevent any unnecessary movement at the intersection. Moreover, it also illustrates the other view of the whole shower enclosure 1 from another perspective.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a stand-alone vertical wall frame i.e. wall jamb 4. It consists of a core internal part 9, and an outer frame 10 overlapping the core internal part 9; and whereby there is an adjustable bolt 5 that can easily lock the adjustable outer frame 10 with the core internal part 9 of the vertical wall frame 4; Figure 3A and Figure 3B illustrates how the adjustable bolt 5 can easily lock the adjustable outer frame 10 with the core internal part 9 of the vertical wall frame 4. Essentially the vertical wall frame 4, i.e. wall jamb has two (2) adjustable bolts 5 that fasten the adjustable outer frame 10 to the core internal part of the vertical wall frame 9. The two (2) adjustable bolts 5 are split individually, with one located at the top and one at the bottom of the vertical wall frame 4. By adjusting (either tightening or loosening) the adjustable bolt 5, the user can easily adjust the outer frame 10 to the core internal part of the vertical wall frame 9, hence compensating for any differences and/or unevenness in the wall surface undulation. This will ensure better wall contact and adhesion when the user applies sealing agent in between the vertical wall frame 9 and the wall.

Figure 4 illustrates a close-up view of the latch (female slot) 11 on the core internal part of the vertical wall frame 9. As illustrated in Figure 4, the latch (female slot) 11 is supposed to meet the corresponding protruding latch (male end) 12 of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header) 2a. Similarly, the same concept can be applied to the horizontal bottom frame, i.e. sill, which also has a similar corresponding protruding latch. Figure 5A to Figure 5D illustrates the different sequences of how the latch (female slot) 11 on the top part of the vertical wall frame 9 is affixed to one corresponding protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header) 12. The mounting can be carried out by sliding item 12 (as denoted in Figure 5A to 513) downwards along the latch (female slot) 11 until it fully snaps into place. A small locking mechanism 6 as mentioned in Figure 1A is then being used to secure the connection of the vertical wall frame 4 with the corresponding end so that it is secured fully in place and to prevent it from moving.

The two (2) corresponding ends of the horizontal top frame 2a are different in feature and function. Figure 6A and 6B illustrates a perspective view and a close-up perspective view of the protruding latch (male end) of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header) 12 respectively for a header 2a when it is being dismantled. Figure 6B also illustrates how the small locking mechanism 6 can secure the connection of the vertical wall frame 4 with the corresponding end of the horizontal top frame (i.e. header) 12 by sliding it along the groove along header 2a so that it is secured fully in place and to prevent it from moving. The method of using the small locking mechanism 6 also applies to the other header and sills as illustrated in Figure 1A, whereby it is being used to secure the connection of the vertical wall frame, i.e wall jamb 4 with the corresponding ends of both the headers 2a and 2b and the sills 3a and 3b so that these are secured fully in place and to prevent them from moving. Figure 6C illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the top frame (i.e. header) 2a, with protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) 13.

Figure 7A illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the top frame (i.e. header) 2a, with protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) 13 facing the protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) 14 of the other corresponding end of the second top frame (i.e. header) 2b. The two (2) ends are supposed to be mounted together as highlighted next in Figure 7B. Figure 7B illustrates another close-up perspective view of how the top frame (i.e. header) 2a, with protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) 13 is affixed to the protruding wedge-shaped comer (male end) 14 of the other corresponding end of the second top frame (i.e. header) 2b. These two (2) ends are supposed to be mounted to each other at a certain angle that is perpendicular to each other in other to have a good fit.

Figure 8A illustrates a perspective view of the horizontal bottom frame (i.e. sill) 3a, with each corresponding ends being different. Figure 8B and 8C further illustrates a close-up view of both ends. Figure 8B illustrates a close-up perspective view of the protruding latch (male end) 15 of the horizontal bottom frame (i.e. sill) 3a. Figure 8C illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) 16 of the horizontal bottom frame (i.e. sill) 3a.

Figure 9A illustrates a close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the bottom frame (i.e. sill) 3a, with protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) 16 facing the protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) 17 of the other corresponding end of the second bottom frame (i.e. sill) 3b. Figure 9B illustrates another close-up perspective view of the other corresponding end of the bottom frame (i.e. sill) 3a, with protruding wedge-shaped corner (male end) 16 is affixed to the protruding wedge-shaped corner (female end) 17 of the other corresponding end of the second bottom frame (i.e. sill) 3b. Similar to what has been described previously for the header portion, these two (2) ends are supposed to be mounted to each other at a certain angle that is perpendicular to each other in other to have a good fit.

Figure 10 illustrates the different perspective views of the bracket catch 7. The bracket catch 7 is inserted at the intersection of the headers and sills as described previously in Figure 7A -7B and Figure 9A -9B in order to have a secure nice and tight fitting. The end result is illustrated in Figure 1A and 1B.

Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of the roller guide 8 with the roller wheels 8c connected to a connecting body 8b which in turn is connected to the spring mechanism 8a. The spring mechanism 8a provides the spring effect such that the connecting body 8b is able to move up and down, thus enabling the tampered glass or plastic sliding shower panel or shower door to be easily mounted in between the bottom and top sills and headers. In addition, Figure 11 illustrates the unit body 8d and 8e to pair up to become a quick release wheel system whereby 8d will be pre-fixed to the shower panel while 8e is being packed separately. Hence such a design of the roller guide will enable the packing of the whole shower enclosure to be more compact and hence allowing 30% increase in quantity per container for shipping.

While what has been described hereinabove is the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will understand that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the invention, which can be expressly set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is: 1. A shower enclosure assembly, comprising of ^ At least two (2) vertical wall frame i.e. wall jamb that is for the two (2) existing corner walls of the bathroom; o wherein the vertical wall frame consists of a core internal part, and an outer frame overlapping the core internal part; and o wherein the vertical wall frame is adjustable accordingly to the wall surface undulation; and o wherein the vertical wall frame has at least two (2) adjustable bolts that fasten the adjustable outer frame to the core internal part of the vertical wall frame; and o wherein by adjusting (either tightening or loosening) the adjustable bolt, the user can easily adjust the outer frame to the core internal part of the vertical wall frame, hence compensating for any difference in the wall surface undulation.^ At least a pair of horizontal top frames, i.e. headers; ^ At least a pair of horizontal bottom frames, i.e. sills; ^ Roller guide for holding the glass or plastic panel onto the sills and headers.
2. A shower enclosure assembly of claim 1, whereby ^ the horizontal top frame, i.e. header, consists of at least a protruding male latch on one corresponding end; and ^ the horizontal bottom frame, i.e. sill, consists of at least a protruding male latch; wherein the protruding latches for both header and sill are mounted onto the latch (female slot) on the vertical wall frame, i.e. wall jamb.
3. A shower enclosure assembly of claim 1, whereby ^ a bracket catch is inserted at the intersection of the headers and sills in order to have a for a nice and secure fit in order to prevent any unnecessary movement at the intersection.
4. A shower enclosure assembly of claim 1, whereby ^ It is flat-pack and modular in nature; ^ Light-weight; ^ Easy to fabricate; ^ Easy to set-up and assemble