GB2576744A

GB2576744A - A shower pod

Info

Publication number: GB2576744A
Application number: GB1814087.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Delaney Paul
Original assignee: Cassellie Ltd
Current assignee: Cassellie Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-30
Filing date: 2018-08-30
Publication date: 2020-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-30
Also published as: GB201814087D0; GB2576744B

Abstract

The invention relates to shower pods (10 figure 1), especially for use in caravans and mobile homes. The shower pod comprises a base section (12 figure 2) having a front opening 28, and a floor 16 from which extend integral sidewalls 20a, 20b wherein a receiving channel (32a figure 3a) is provided adjacent the edge of the front opening on at least one side wall. The pod has a top section (14 figure 2) having a front opening with integral side walls 42a, 42b and a receiving channel 32b adjacent the front opening. When the top section is mounted on the base section, the receiving channel in the top section and the bottom section are aligned.

Description

A Shower Pod

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to shower pods, particularly for use in caravans and mobile homes.

Background to the Invention

Shower pods are available as composite structures in which a shower can be installed to reduce the risk of water leaking and they are particularly desirable in caravans and mobile homes to contain water and prevent water damage to the surrounding space. Traditional shower pods are preassembled and have a composite body section, often provided in two or more pieces, to which aluminium strips are connected via screws. The aluminium strips are provided so that glass or plastics panels can be fitted to the pod body.

The pod is first constructed off-site to ensure that it all fits together and then it is taken apart so that it can fit through a standard door and be installed. A problem with such a system is that the aluminium strips that are screwed onto the body are often not in exactly the same place on installation and when they are first assembled, thereby leading to the initial screw holes being enlarged upon the screw being inserted a second time, which results in the aluminium strips being lose and the glass panels not fitting correctly. This can lead to leaks in the shower pods that can cause significant water damage.

Additionally, when the screws are fitted back into the pre-drilled holes on installation, the body can crack or split, thereby leading to leaks. Furthermore, the installation can be difficult and time-consuming, particularly with many screw holes and screws being required to firmly fix the aluminium strips to be body.

-2Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a shower pod comprising:

a base section having:

a front opening; and a floor from which depends an integrally formed pair of side walls; wherein, a receiving channel is provided adjacent the edge of the front opening on at least one of the side walls; and a top section having:

a front opening; and an integrally formed pair of opposing side walls;

wherein, on at least one of the side walls, a receiving channel is provided adjacent the front opening ;

wherein, when the top section is mounted on the base section, the receiving channel in the top section and the receiving channel in the bottom section are aligned such that a sheet of planar material can be received within the aligned channels.

The shower pod of the present invention removes the need for holes to be drilled and screws to be inserted for attaching aluminium strips to hold glass panels, Instead, a channel is provided around the periphery of the pod to receive the glass or plastics material panels and the panels are then held in place using wedge seals; however, the channels are sufficiently deep to accommodate adjustment of the panels, thereby allowing for variable tolerances in the panel size.

It is preferable that the edge of the base section distal from the floor comprises the first part of a mating arrangement and an edge of the top section comprises the second part of a mating arrangement such that the top section can be mounted upon the base section, and, more preferably, at least one part of the mating arrangements comprises a lipped portion,

By having a mating arrangement, for example a top lip on the base section and a bottom lip on the top section, the parts can interlock to more accurately and securely fit together. This reduces the risk of water leakage and provided an alignment mechanism to ensure

-3that the parts are correctly aligned. The base and top sections can then be connected together, for example, with clips, brackets or other fixing mechanisms, including, but not necessarily desirable, screws.

Advantageously, the top section further comprises at least one receiving aperture for receiving a top rail. A top rail may be received within apertures or recesses in each side wall. This allows the top of any panel that is inserted into the pod to be held securely to reduce the risk of damage. Additionally, the top rail allows for a door to be connected to the pod, preferably a slide or rolling door. The top rail may have a profile that has a channel or recess in the intended underside, facing the base section, for accommodating and stabilising a glass, or plastics material, panel, and it may further have a channel with a lip facing the point where the comers meet or a back-wall to accommodate a top roller for mounting a door therein.

Preferably, the top section comprises at least one flange extending outwardly from the pod and the receiving aperture is at least partially contained within the flange. An outwardly extending flange to accommodate the receiving aperture allows the top rail to be received without affecting the internal volume of the pod.

Advantageously, a back-wall is provided on the base section and the top section between the side walls and opposing the front opening, the back wall being integrally formed with the floor and side walls. Whilst the shower pod can be used for comers, for example by having a footprint in the shape of a quadrant or circular sector, whereby the two sides meet, it may be desirable for the shower pod to have a footprint in the shape of a quadrilateral, for example, rectangular, square or rhombus. This allows for a larger shower pod to be created that can fit into a corresponding space. Where the side walls do not meet directly, a back wall may be employed therebetween.

The invention extends to a shower arrangement comprising:

a shower pod as set out herein;

at least one sheet of planar material, which may be in the form of glass, plastics material or another material, arranged to be received within the glassreceiving channel and secured therein with at least one wedge seal.

-4The wedge seal secures the planar material within the receiving channel and assists in making the arrangement water-tight. The wedge seal provides some adjustment in the planar material to allow some repositioning of the planar material so that the door and planar sheet can be aligned correctly, One or more further sheets of planar material may be provided, particularly where the arrangement has a top rail provided on the shower pod and a door mounted thereupon, because the top rail may have a recess or channel to hold the top of the sheet material in place. The depth of the, or each, receiving channel is sufficient to allow adjustment ofthe planar material so that the planar material may extend part way in the receiving channel or fully into the receiving channel, if required. The wedge seal, which may comprise rubber or elastomeric material, can then hold the planar material in position. The arrangement allows for a shower pod to be installed that requires minimal or no drilling and screwing.

The top rail stabilises the arrangement, particularly by retaining the top edge of the planar material in position, which also allowing for a sliding, or rolling, door to be attached thereto.

The present invention provides a shower pod that requires no aluminium side channels to be attached and also does not require any prior assembly and so it does not require any drilled or screwed sections to be fixed together prior to installation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an assembled shower pod in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a partially exploded view of the shower pod of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a further exploded view of the shower pod of Figure 1; Figure 3a shows an enlarged view of part of the shower pod of Figure 3; Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the top rail and the shower pod of Figure 2;

and

-5Figure 5 shows view of the door arrangement of the shower pod of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

Figures 1 to 5 shows views of a shower pod 10, having a base section 12 and a top section 14 that sits upon the base section 12, when assembled.

The base section 12 comprises a substantially rectangular floor 16, having a drain hole 18 therein, and integrally formed side walls 20a/20b and an integrally formed back-wall 22 connecting the two side walls 20a/20b. The top edge of the side walls 20a/20b and the back-wall 22 is provided with a lip 24 extending in a direction away from the floor 16 with a corresponding shoulder 26 adjacent the lip 24 on the top edge of the base section 12. As there are three integrally formed walls 20/22, a front opening 28 is provided along the fourth side 30 of the rectangular floor 16, although the side walls could extend partially along the fourth side 30 to provide a more enclosed shower pod.

The side walls 20 are each provided with a U-shaped receiving channel 32a formed adjacent their front edges, that is, the edge distal from the back-wall 22. This receiving channel 32 is sized and shaped to receive a first sheet of planar material 34, such as glass or plastics material. The planar material 34 is held in place by way of a wedge seal (not shown).

The top section 14 comprises a back-wall 40 with integrally formed side walls 42a/42b at opposing edges of the back-wall 40. The edges of those side walls 42 that are distal from the back-wall 40 are provided with U-shaped receiving channels 32b that are substantially the same as those receiving channels 32a in the base section 12 so as to align therewith. The upper ends of the receiving channels 32b in the top section 14 are further provided with outwardly protruding flanges 44, that is to say they extend externally of the side walls 42 in a plane parallel with the back-wall 40, and within the flanges 44 are respective receiving apertures 46,

To assemble the pod 10 the top section 14 is fitted onto the base section 12 so that the lip 24 of base section 12 is external to the back-wall 40 and side walls 42 of the top section

14, which reduces the risk of water leaking through the join. The receiving channels 32 of the base section 12 and the top section 14 are aligned and a first sheet of planar material 34 is positioned within the receiving channel on one side of the front opening 28 of the pod. A second sheet of planar material 36 is provided within the receiving channel 32 on the other side of the front opening 28 and both of the sheets of planar material 34/36 are retained in place by way of wedge seals (not shown).

Each end of a top rail 50 slots into the respective receiving apertures 46 on respective side walls 42 ot the top section 14, with the top rail 50 having a panel receiving channel 52 in its underside, that is, the side facing the floor 16 of the pod 10. The panel receiving channel 52 engages the top of the first sheet of planar material 34 and the second sheet of planar material 36 to reduce the risk of movement of the planar material sheets. Again, a wedge seal is employed to retain the sheets of planar material within the top rail 50. The top rail 50 is further provided with a track 54 in its side facing the back-wall 40 of the top section 14. A door 56 fits onto the top rail 50 by way of rollers 58 attached to the door 56 and that are received within the track 54, winch allows the door 56 to roll along the top rail 50 internal of the planar material sheets 34/36.

Other shapes may be employed for the floor section of the base and the integrally formed walls numbered accordingly to allow an opening through which a user may enter the shower pod. Where a different shape footprint of shower pod is employed, there top rail will be adapted as required and it may be arcuate, straight or have an angle therein, depending on the position of the side walls.

It may be desirable to form the base section and the top section as a single integral part.

The side receiving channel may be provided on a single side or on both sides of the shower pod, depending upon the shape, size and desired appearance and functionality of the shower pod.

Claims

1. A shower pod comprising:

a base section having:

a front opening; and an integrally formed pair of opposing side walls;

wherein, on at least one of the side walls, a receiving channel is provided adjacent the front opening;

2. A shower pod according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the base section distal from the floor comprises the first part of a mating arrangement and an edge of the top section comprises the second part of a mating arrangement such that the top section can be mounted upon the base section.

3. A shower pod according to claim 2, wherein at least one pail of the mating arrangements comprises a lipped portion.

4. A shower pod according to any preceding claim 1, wherein the top section further comprises at least one receiving aperture for receiving a top rail.

5. A shower pod according to claim 4, wherein the top section comprises at least one flange extending outwardly from the pod and the receiving aperture is at least partially contained within the flange.

6.

5

7.

10

8.

- 8 A shower pod according to any preceding claim, wherein a back-wall is provided on the base section and the top section between the side walls and opposing the front opening, the back wall being integrally formed with the floor and side walls.

A shower arrangement comprising:

a shower pod according to any preceding claim;

at least one sheet of planar material arranged to be received within the glass-receiving channel and secured therein with at least one wedge seal.

A shower arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a top rail is provided on the shower pod and a door mounted thereupon.