GB2583824A

GB2583824A - Improvements to a shower base or former tray

Info

Publication number: GB2583824A
Application number: GB2002673.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Brian
Original assignee: Procare Shower and Bathroom Centre Ltd
Current assignee: Procare Shower and Bathroom Centre Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-26
Filing date: 2020-02-26
Publication date: 2020-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-26
Also published as: GB2601705B; GB2583824B; GB2601705A; GB202203434D0; GB2583824A8; GB2601456A; GB2601456B; GB202002673D0; GB202203433D0

Abstract

A former tray 4 for a shower base assembly 2 comprises an aperture 10 for receiving a plate 16. The plate is formed with at least a portion that matches the shape of the aperture, and can be received in a plurality of user selected positions. Once in position, rotation of the plate is prevented. The plate may include a drainage outlet 18 offset from the centre axis of the plate, allowing underlying joists 8 to be avoided. The plate may include a series of side walls 26, at least one of which is straight. The plate may include upper and lower portions of different shapes, the upper portion may be circular and the lower portion may have side walls, at least one of which prevents rotation of the plate. The aperture may be offset from the centre of the tray. A shower base assembly comprises a former tray base which includes an aperture for supporting a plate portion. The plate portion is selectively located in the aperture in one of a range of possible positions, and once in place rotation of the plate is prevented, with the aperture and the plate including the same number of angularly offset, straight walls.

Description

Improvements to a Shower Base or former tray The invention to which this application relates is to an improved form of a former tray for use as part of a shower base assembly and, in particular, to an improved former tray of the type which is installed on and typically secured to a floor structure of a building, which may typically be formed of a series of joists or beams, and when in position, the former tray has an upper surface which receives thereon a coating of a sheet material, and/or tiles which, when in position, forms the external surface, or floor of the shower base assembly and defines the sealed, substantially waterproof area of the shower.

Conventionally, the former tray is formed of a plastics material which is moulded or formed so as to form the shape of the shower base assembly area, with at least the upper surface of the same typically having sloping portions which extend downwardly from the peripheral edges of the former tray to at the lowest level, a drainage outlet. The drainage outlet receives therein, a gully assembly which is connected to a. drainage assembly which is located underneath the shower base assembly and which allows the connection of the same to a drainage system for the building in which the shower base assembly is installed and allows the drainage of water from the shower. As already stated, the upper surface of the former tray, is typically not provided to form the external surface on which the user of the shower stands but, instead, receives thereon tiles or a sheet material coating which forms the external surface on which the user stands, or which receives a chair thereon on which the user can sit. However, it will be appreciated that the former tray provides strength for the shower base assembly and is formed of a. shape so as to encourage the shower water to flow towards the drainage outlet to the gully assembly.

While shower base assemblies of this type are extensively used, problems can be experienced if for example, when the former tray is fitted M. position, the fixed location of the drain and gully lie over a floor joist rather than in a space between the joists and, when this occurs, it is most often the case that the shower base assembly location has to be moved which can cause adverse effects on other installation apparatus within the bathroom and especially if available space is limited In order to overcome this problem, it is known to provide a former tray which has a base with a relatively large circular aperture formed therein at the centre of the tray and a plate which is formed of the same circular shape as the circular aperture formed in the tray. The plate is provided to be located on a lip surrounding the aperture and to be supported by the lip so as to have an upper surface which is substantially flush with the upper surface of the former tray when the plate is in position therewith. Provided on the plate is the drainage outlet, which is offset to the centre axis of the circular plate and the drainage outlet can receive therein the gully assembly and, in rum, be connected to the drainage assembly underneath the shower base assembly. The circular plate can be rotated with respect to the base portion and as the drainage outlet is offset to the central axis about which the circular plate is rotated, so the position of the drainage outlet can he adjusted so as to avoid the same being positioned above a joist in a floor structure and so the joists no longer become a potential obstacle to the installation.

However there are also problems with this form of structure in that a.s the said circular plate is rotatably moveable with respect to the former tray base, then, while the same can be positioned at any location with respect to the former tray base at the time of installation, equally, the circular plate is still possibly rotatable after installation and any such movement can cause significant stress and potential failure of the connection between the gully assembly and the drainage assembly which lies underneath the shower base assembly and which is typically fixed in position with respect to the floor joists. The relative movement between the circular plate and the drainage assembly can cause leakage and/or breaking of the connection between the gully assembly and the drainage assembly.

A further problem experienced is that the strength of the circular plate is less than that of the former tray base and in effect, the circular plate is suspended from the base by the contact with the peripheral lip. This lack of strength means that when the weight of the person using the shower is on the circular plate, potential breakage of the lip portions can occur which causes failure of the former tray base, leading to the need to remove the tiles and/or the sheet material covering in order to access and repair, or replace the former tray.

A yet further problem is that the provision of the base portion, circular plate and the gully assembly means that a three-component base assembly is created and, at the interfaces between the respective components, there is a leakage risk. This means that, despite the advantages which can be possible, the disadvantages can mean that the commercial attractiveness of the three-component base assembly is somewhat limited.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an Unproved shower base assembly which emphasises the advantages which can be obtained by including a moveable portion in which the drainage outlet is located whilst minimising the disadvantages described above.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide further improvements to the shower base assembly which allow the same to be effective in use and provide adaptability in installation of the same.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a former tray for a shower base assembly, said former tray including an aperture formed therein for receipt of a plate, said plate formed with at least a portion which is substantially the same shape as the aperture and which can he received in the aperture in a plurality of user selected positions and, once the said position is selected and the plate is iYi position with respect to the former tray base, rotation of the plate with respect to the former tray base is prevented.

In one embodiment, the plate includes a drainage outlet formed in the plate and the said outlet is offset to a centre axis of the said plate.

In one embodiment, the outlet is provided in a recessed portion of the upper surface of the plate which acts as a gully plate. In one embodiment the gully plate is formed integrally with the plate.

Typically, the gully plate portion includes engagement means to allow the same to be engaged with a drainage assembly which is located to the underside of the shower base assembly when located in a position for use.

In one embodiment, the plate is formed with side walls which include at least one straight side wall.

In one embodiment, the walls of at least a portion of the plate are formed by a plurality of angularly offset straight side walls.

In on embodiment substantially the whole depth of the plate is formed to include one or more substantially straight side wall portions.

Typically the plate includes a peripheral skirt or flange which is provided to lie on a recessed lip formed around the edge of the aperture in the base portion and which acts to support the plate in position and prevent the same from passing through the aperture when weight is applied to the same by the person standing above the same when using the shower.

In an alternative embodiment, the plate is formed of an upper portion and lower portion of different shapes. In one embodiment, the upper portion is substantially circular, and the lower portion has a side wall which includes at least one straight sidewall portion.

In one embodiment, the aperture in the base into which the plate is to he located includes an upper portion which is substantially the same shape as the upper portion of the plate and the lower portion which is substantially the same shape as the lower portion of the plate and which receives the said plate such that the upper surface of the plate is substantially flush with the upper surface of the base portion.

In a yet further embodiment, the said plate includes an upper portion which is substantially the same shape as the upper portion of the aperture of the former tray base and locking means formed on the under surface of the upper portion of the plate which are provided to selectively locate with one of a plurality of potential positions on a locating ring formed on a lower portion of the former tray base.

Typically, in whichever embodiment, the orientation of the drainage outlet of the plate with respect to the former tray base and/or the floor joists which underlie the position of the shower base assembly can be selected by a relative rotational movement of the plate with respect to the aperture in the former tray base. Once selected, the plate can be lowered into the aperture in the former tray base so that the respective engagement of the plate with the former tray portion is achieved and, when in position, no further rotational movement of the plate with respect to the former tray base is possible so that the rotational orientation of the plate is locked with respect to the former tray base to form the shower base assembly.

Typically, the gully plate of the plate can be then located with the drainage assembly which underlies the former tray base or, alternatively, the drainage assembly can be at least partially engaged with the gully prior to location of the plate with the former tray base In one embodiment, the said aperture in the former tray base, is offset to the centre axis of the former tray base and so the relative position of the aperture in the former tray base can be adjusted with respect to the floor structure in which the same is to be used to be at least one of two positions or, if the former tray base portion is square, one of four positions and thereby provides a further degree of selection of the location of the dram' age outlet by movement of the former tray base with respect to the floor structure and/or movement of the plate with respect to the former tray base.

In one embodiment, the former tray base can be cut to a selected dimension at the point of installation and the former tray base, in one embodiment, includes a series of lines which acts as guides to show to the installer the locations at which a potential cut can be made without adversely affecting the strength of the shower ba.se.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a shower base assembly, said assembly including a former tray base for placement on a support surface or surfaces, said former tray base including an aperture formed therein which has a support for a plate portion to be selectively located in said aperture in one of the range of possible positions and wherein, when placed and supported in position in the aperture in the selected position, rotation of the plate portion about its centre axis relative to the former tray base is not possible and the said aperture and the said plate include the same number of angularly offset, substantially straight, sidewalls.

In one embodiment, both the edges of plate portion and the part of the said former tray base aperture into which the plate portion is located are of the same dimensions and are hexagonally shaped. llwically, when the former tray base and plate portion are placed together, a substantially flush external surface is formed between the former tray base and the plate portion.

In one embodiment the support provided on the former tray base for the plate portion is one or more dints which extend inwardly of the aperture in the former tray base and he below the external surface of the former tray base such that when positioned therewith the external surfaces of the former tray base and plate portions are substantially flush.

Typically, the plate portion includes a drain aperture formed therein which is offset from the centre axis of the said plate portion.

In one embodiment, adjacent to the said drain aperture are provided engagement means to allow a drain assembly to be located therewith. In one embodiment the drain aperture is located in a recessed area of the plate portion so as to form a drain gully integrally with the said plate portion.

In one embodiment, the said former tray base is provided at least on the external surface thereof, with fall lines which encourage the flow of liquid from the edges of the said former tray base towards the aperture formed therein and typically the said plate portion is provided with fall lines which encourage the flow of water from the former tray base onto the said plate portion and onward towards the drain aperture formed in the plate portion.

In one embodiment, the external surface of the former tray base, includes an interface of said fall lines and at which the angle of the fall lines changes. In one embodiment, the interface is the join between the edges of the plate portion and the edges of the aperture of the former tray base. In another embodiment, the interface is located on the former tray base and is offset from the join between the plate portion and the former tray base. In one embodiment the said interface is substantially circular in outline.

Although the invention is described herein as having a hexagonally shaped aperture and plate portion, it should be appreciated that other shapes with straight edges which are angularly offset can be used, such as octagon shaped, twelve sided shaped or the like.

In one embodiment, when the said plate portion is provided in location with the aperture of the former tray base, the external surface of the former tray base and portion, together, form a frustoconical shape, with the drain gully being located at what would be the point of the conical shape.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a shower former assembly, said assembly including a former tray base for placement on a support surface or surfaces, said former tray base including an aperture formed therein for the receipt of a plate to be selectively located in said aperture in one of a range of possible positions and wherein, the number of possible positions is at least one less than the number of straight side edges of the said plate.

In one embodiment, the former and/or plate are provided with engagement means which ensure that the number of possible positions of the plate with regard to the former aperture is one less than the number of straight side edges of said plate and/or aperture.

In one embodiment, the walls of the aperture in the former, include one protrusion or recess and the side walls of the plate include a number of the other of protrusions or recesses which are provided to be selectively engaged with the said protrusion.

In one embodiment, at or adjacent to some but not all of the straight edges of the plate, there is at least one recess or protrusion portion so as to allow one of the recesses or protrusions to be selectively positioned with the other of a protrusion or recess of the former. Typically only one of the straight edges does not have a recess and this thereby ensures that the plate can only be engaged in n-1 positions with regard to the former where n is the number of straight edged side walls of the plate.

In this manner it is therefore ensured that there is a secure lock of the plate with regard to the former when the selected one of the possible positions has been achieved and thereby ensures that once the plate and former have been placed together in engagement then the relative positions of the same are maintained during subsequent construction of the former and shower area.

Typically, the plate is formed as a gully plate in that a drain gully is formed as an integral part of the plate so that when the plate is moved into position, the drain gully is already located and formed thereon as an integral part. This therefore avoids the need for a further component to be added to the plate subsequently which is of particular benefit given that access to the underside of the plate can be difficult or restricted in terms of space. However, it should be appreciated that the drain galley may be provided as a component to be fitted to the plate.

In one embodiment, the number of straight side walls of the plate and, the aperture in which the same can be located, is 12 although it should be appreciated that this number can be selected to suit the particular user or installer requirements.

In one embodiment, the aperture in the former includes a first part which is dimensioned so as to allow a close fit to be achieved between the side walls of the plate and the side walls of the former and, underlying the said first part, there is provided a skirt portion which depends inwardly of the aperture from the side walls and therefore act as a support onto which the plate can be located.

Typically, the ckirt is offset from the upper surface of the former so that when the plate is located in the aperture, the top surface of the plate lies substantially flush with the top surface of the former.

In one embodiment, the former is provided with 2 portions which extend outwardly from the aperture, a first portion which is located at the periphery of the former and depends inwardly towards the aperture and a. second portion which is located intermediate the first portion and the aperture.

Typically, said first and second portions are formed so as to encourage the flow of water towards the drain gully in the plate when in position and therefore ensure that the water drains from the upper surface from the shower area towards the drain gully.

In one embodiment, the first and second portions include flow lines which are indented and which again encourage the flow of liquid towards the drain gully in the plate.

In one embodiment there are a greater number of flow lines in the second portion than there are in the first portion.

In one embodiment, the flow lines in the second portion are formed so as to locate with, at one end, with a flow line provided on the plate so as to provide a substantially continuous flow line between the second portion, the plate and hence the drain gully.

In one embodiment, the said flow lines are provided and shaped so as to ensure that, regardless of the particular selected position of the plate with regard to the former, a substantially continuous flow line is provided in each case.

Typically, the drain aperture, and hence drain gully, is offset from the centre of the plate so that the particular location of the drain gully with respect to the former can be selected to allow the avoidance of any joists which may underly the former when ixn position, by the selective rotation of the plate to the required position and then placement of the plate into the aperture in the former.

Typically, the location of the aperture in the former is offset from the centre of the former so as to allow a further degree of adjustability of the position of the drain aperture and hence drain gully which respect to any joists or other obstructions which may underly the shower tray.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein Figure 1 illustrates a perpendicular view of a shower base assembly in accordance with a. first embodiment of the invention; Figures 2a-d illustrate several views of the shower base assembly plate of Figure 1; Figures 3a and b illustrates a perpendicular view of a shower base assembly in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; Figures 4a-f illustrate several views of the shower base assembly plate of Figure 1; Figures 5a and b illustrate part of the shower base portion and plate in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; Figures 6a-f illustrate the manner in which the plate of the embodiment shown ni Figures3a-f can be selectively positioned with respect to the assembly base; Figures 7a-d illustrate the various components of the assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 8a and b illustrate the components of Figures 7a-d assembled together in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in two different configurations; Figures 9a -e, illustrate views of the plate portion in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; I figures 10a-c, illustrate cross-sectional elevations of the plate portion in accordance with one embodiment of the invention along lines A-A and B-B and CC; Figures 1 la-c illustrate a former tray base in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 12a-b illustrate a former tray base un accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; Figures 13a-e illustrate a plate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 14a-b illustrate the plate of Figures 13a-c fitted un position with the former of Figures 11a-c; and Figure 15 illustrates the underside of the former assembly of Figures 14a-b uu position with respect to a floor joist; Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a shower base assembly 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The shower base assembly 2 comprises a former tray base 4 which is provided to be mounted on a floor structure 6 which, in this embodiment, is formed by a plurality of joists 8. The assembly also includes, in the base 4, an aperture 10 which is offset from the centre axis 12. It will therefore be appreciated that the rotation of the shower base through, in this case 180 degrees about the axis 12 will allow the position of the aperture 10 to be selected to be in one of two positions, 14 as shown, or 14' with respect to the floor structure on which the base is positioned.

Received in the aperture 10, is a plate 16 which can be provided in a number of embodiments, and which will be described subsequently. In each case however, the plate 16 includes a drainage outlet 18 therein which is offset from the centre axis 20 of the plate. The plate is provided to be selectively rotatable when removed from the aperture about its centre axis 20 and then placed into the aperture so as to allow the position of the drainage outlet 18 with respect to the aperture 10 and hence the base 4, to be selected to suit particular installation requirements.

The plate also includes, and preferably integrally therewith, a gully plate 22 M which the drainage outlet 18 is provided and which typically includes engagement means to allow the engagement of the gully and hence plate with a drainage assembly which is located on the underside of the shower base assembly and allows connection to the building drainage system to allow water from use of the shower to pass through the drainage outlet 18 to the drainage assembly as waste water.

Referring now to Figures 2a.-d there is illustrated a. first embodiment of the plate 16 in accordance with that used in figure 1. The side walls of the plate 16 are formed as a plurality of angularly offset straight edges 24 which match with angularly offset straight edges 26 of the wall of the aperture 10 in the base. In this embodiment, as shown, the plate 16 is hexagonal in shape so as to allow six different positions in which the plate can be located in the aperture and hence 6 different positions of the drainage outlet 18 to be selected with respect to the base. Furthermore when the plate 16 is in the selected position the straight edges 24,26 abutment prevents any rotation of the plate 16 relative to the aperture 10 and so the plate is effectively locked in position.

A further embodiment of the invention is now described with regard to Figures 3a41 and the same reference numerals are used for the same features as shown in the first embodiment. However in this embodiment there is provided a plate 36 which has an upper portion 38 which is of a different shape to a lower portion 40 in that angularly offset side walls 24 are only provided on the lower portion 40 and these act to lock the rotational movement of the plate 36 with respect to the angularly offset walls 26 of a lower part of the aperture 10 in the base 4. The side walls 42 of the upper part of the aperture 10 are circular in shape and match the circular side wall 44 of the upper portion 38 of the plate 36 when the same is positioned in the aperture 10 by moving the same downwardly from the position shown in Figure 3b by arrow 46 to the position shown in Figure 3a. The plate 36 is supported in positioned by the underside of the upper portion 38 locating on the recessed lip 48 of the aperture 10 so that the external surface 50 of the plate 36 lies substantially flush with the upper surface 52 of the base 4.

In a further embodiment shown in Figures 5a and b, there is provided a plate 56 which includes on the underside and around the periphery of the same one or more engagement means 58 and on a lip 60 at the periphery of the aperture 10 of the shower base 4 there are provided further engagement means 62. In this case the engagement means 62 are spaced apart around a circular path on the lip 60 and each engagement means location provides a selectable position for the plate 56 with respect to the base 4 so that the plate can be rotated about the aperture until the offset drainage aperture is at the required location with respect to the base and is then locked in that position so preventing further rotation.

In each embodiment the top surface 50 of the plates can have grooves 64 or other formations formed so as to encourage the flow of liquid towards the drainage outlet 18 and these can be provided to match with the slopes 66 of the base 4 which also lead to the drainage outlet 18.

Figures 6a -f illustrate the embodiment of Figures 3a-4f in plan and illustrate the yammer in which the rotation of the plate 36 about its centre axis 20 when the plate is raised from the base 4 allow the respective location of the offset drainage outlet 18 to be selected with respect to the base 4. \Vhen the respective one of, in this embodiment, six possible locations, is selected the plate 36 can then be lowered as indicated by arrow 46 in figure 3b into the aperture 10 so that the respective straight edges 24,26 of the plate 36 and aperture 10 engage and effectively lock the plate in that selected position with the shower base.

It should be appreciated that the same selection of position and then locking procedure can also he performed with respect to the first and third embodiments described herein. It should also be appreciated that the number of user selectable locations can be adjusted to suit particular requirements by altering the number and/or angle of straight edged side wall portions that are provided.

Referring firstly to Figures 7a-9e, there is illustrated a former tray base assembly 102 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The assembly includes a former tray base 104 which has an underside 106 which is provided to be located on a support surface, such as a series of joists of a floor of a building, and an upper side 108 onto which, typically, a covering material is located to form the floor of the shower, once the assembly is in position.

The former tray base also includes a series of fall lines 110 which pass from the outer edges of the former tray base towards an aperture 114 which is located, typically, in the former tray base at an offset position with respect to the centre axis 116 of the former tray base. The aperture passes from the upper 108 to the under 106 sides of the former tray base 104. It should also be appreciated that although the former tray base is shown here in a rectangular shape, other shapes of former tray base can also be possible in accordance with the invention.

The aperture 114 formed in the former tray base, is, on the upper side 108, of a hexagonal shape as shown with a series of straight edges 118 which are angularly offset from each other. "f owards the underside of the former tray base, there is provided a series of support skirts 120 which depend inwardly from the edges 118 of the aperture and these serve to support in position, a plate portion 122 which, is also hexagonal in shape with a series of angularly offset straight edges 124 as shown. 'the fitment between the plate portion 122 and the aperture 114 is such that when in position, the straight edges of the aperture and plate portion lie adjacent to each other to form, on the top surface, a substantially flush continuation between the surface of the former tray base and the surface of the portion as shown in Figures 7d, 8a, 8h.

The plate portion 122 is shown in more detail in Figures 9a-e and includes a drain aperture 126 formed therein which is included in a recessed part 128 of the plate portion and acts as a drain gully as shown in more detail in Figures 10a-e and engagement means 130 can be provided to allow the connection therewith of drain gully components in the form of guilty cap 132 and clamping ring 134 and to the underside drain pipework 136 can be located.

_Hinnies 138 are also provided on the plate portion 122 so as to further encourage the flow of liquid from the former tray base 104 onto the portion 122 and then towards the drain aperture 126.

In this embodiment there is provided an interface 140 between the fall lines 110 of the former tray base 104 and the fall lines 138 of the plate portion 122 so as to ensure that the flow of liquid is as required towards the drain aperture in the plate portion and at the interface while the fall lines join, the respective angles of the same change as shown but will always join, regardless of which particular position the plate portion 122 is selected to be provided in the aperture 114.

When forming the former tray base assembly the installer has the ability to select the particular orientation of the former tray base with respect to the floor assembly by rotating the same about the central axis 116 of the assembly. Furthermore, the installer can then select the particular orientation of the plate portion 122 with regard to the assembly when for example, the plate portion 122 is in the location shown in Figure 7c by selectively rotating the plate portion as indicated by arrow 142 with respect to the centre axis 144 of the plate portion 122 and this thereby rotates the position of the drain aperture in the plate portion 122 with respect to the centre axis 144 and the former tray base 104 so as, for example, to allow the location of the drain aperture 114 to be selected to avoid a particular support joist which may be positioned under the assembly.

Once the particular orientation of the plate portion 122 is selected and, which in the embodiment shown, as the plate is of a hexagonal shape, is one of six possible orientations, the installer can then move the plate portion 122 downwardly as indicated by arrow 146 into the aperture 114 on the former tray base 104 at the selected orientation and the engagement between the respective straight edges of the plate portion and the former tray base mean that the plate portion 122 is automatically locked in that orientation and cannot then be rotated further with regard to the aperture 114 in the former tray base 104. Figures 8a and b show examples of two different orientations which can be selected in accordance with the invention.

As shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 10a-c, the plate portion 122 is stepped with an upper layer 150 which may include engagement means 154 to allow engagement means to be used to engage the same to the former tray base 104, and a lower layer 152. The exposed underside of the upper layer 150 engages with the upper surface of the support skirts 120 of the former tray base to provide the plate portion in the required location and ensure that a substantially flush surface between the former tray base upper side 108 and the upper side 156 of the plate portion 122 when engaged, is formed and the frustoconical shape encourages the flow of liquid from the outer edges of the former tray base 104 towards the plate portion 122 and, in turn, to the drain aperture 114 whilst also ensuring that the particular orientation and configuration of the shower base assembly 102 can be selected at the time of installation and then retained in that position.

Once the assembly has been formed in the required configuration, and is located on the support surface, then the covering to form the floor of the shower area., can be placed over the upper surfaces of the former tray base 104 and plate portion 122 to form the shower floor.

Referring firstly to Figures 11a-c, there is illustrated a former tray base in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and the former tray base 202 top surface 204 is shown in Figures 11 a-b and the under surface 206 is shown in figure 11c. The former tray base has a peripheral outer edge 208 which includes a series of linear portions 210 which can be selectively removed to allow further adjustment of the dimensions of the outer edges of the former. It is shown that the underside 206 is formed with a honeycomb structure 212 which provides the required strength of the former whilst reducing the material usage, so as to withstand the weight of a person standing on the top surface 204 of the shower area once formed. The top surface 204 incorporates a. first portion 214 which depends inwardly from the outer periphery towards the aperture 218 in the former and a second portion 216 which lies intermediate the first portion 214 and the aperture 218. It is shown how both the first and second portions have flow lines 220, with the first portion having flow lines 220 which are provided so as to locate with flow lines 220 in the second portion.

In this case, the aperture 218 is a 12-sided shape with corners 222 between adjacent straight edges 224. 'the aperture also includes a skirt portion 226 which is positioned inwardly from the straight edges 224 and is offset below the top surface 204 of the former 202 so that when the plate is positioned in the aperture the top surface of the plate lies substantially flush with the top surface 204 of the former tray base 202.

Figures 12a-b illustrate a further embodiment in which the former is again provided with similar components as previously described and which are provided with the same reference numerals but in this case, the former is square in its peripheral shape as opposed to rectangular in accordance with the embodiment of Figures 1 la-c. In both embodiments, the centre axis 228 of the aperture 218 is offset to the centre axis 230 of the former tray base and this there allows the particular configuration of the former assembly to be selected with regard to the shower area so as to allow adaptability and the possible avoidance of any obstructions which may underly the former tray when it is placed in position.

It is also shown that in these embodiments the skirt portion 226 includes a protrusion 232.

figures 13a-e illustrate various views of a plate 234 which is provided in the form of a gully plate having a gully 236 fitted to the drain aperture 238, formed in the plate as shown. In other embodiments the gully may be provided as a separate component. At the outer edge 240 of the plate, there is the same number of straight edges 242 as the aperture 218 in the former tray base 204 and it will therefore be appreciated that the particular orientation of the plate with regard to the aperture of the former can be selected by the user by rotation of the plate with respect to the former tray base before placing the plate into the aperture 218.

As the centre axis 244 of the drain hole 238 is offset to the centre axis 246 of the plate, as illustrated in Figure 13d, then it will be appreciated this provides a further degree of variation of the position of the drain hole with respect to the former tray base, and thereby allows further selected positioning of the plate so as to avoid any other obstructions to the drain gull, such as floor joist 48 of the support onto which the former tray is located, as illustrated in Figure 15.

The plate 244 is provided with a top face 250 and a lower portion 252 and the lower portion is provided with a series of indents or recesses 254 and in particular, with an indent or recess being provided for each of the straight edges 242, apart from one straight edge 242'. 'the indents or recesses are provided so as to allow the selection of the location of the plate 234 via one of the indents 254 being located with the protrusion 232 on the former tray base so as to secure the selected position of the plate with regard to the former by location of the indent 254 and the protrusion 232. However, as one of the straight edges 242' of the plate does not have an indent then the number of selectable positions of the plate with regard to the former aperture 18 is n-1, where "n" is the number of straight edges of the plate and the aperture.

It is also indicated in Figures 13a-e that the plate 234 includes a series of flow lines 256, the flow lines depending from corners 238 at the edge of the plate towards the drain gully 236 and so, as shown in Figures 14a-b, when the plate 234 is moved into a selected position with regard to the aperture in the former tray base to complete the former assembly, so there is a continuous connection between the flow lines 220 of the first portion and the second portion of the former tray base 202 and in turn, to the flow lines 256 on the plate 234 and hence encouraging the flow of liquid towards the drain gully aperture.

It is also shown in Figure 1413, which shows the underside 206 of the former tray base, how the protrusion 232 of the fonner tray base 202 engages with one of the indents 254 on the plate 234 so as to secure the position of the plate and prevent further rotation of the plate with regard to the former once the particular selected position has been selected.

Claims

Claims 1. A former tray for a shower base assembly, said former tray including an aperture formed therein for receipt of a plate, said plate formed with at least a portion which is substantially the same shape as the aperture and which can be received in the aperture in a plurality of user selected positions and, once the said position is selected and the plate is in position with respect to the former tray base, rotation of the plate with respect to the former tray base is prevented.
2. Apparatus according to chilli. 1 wherein the plate includes a drainage outlet formed in the plate and the said outlet is in a position which is offset to a centre axis of the said plate.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the drainage outlet is located in a. recessed portion of the upper surface of the plate, when the plate is in position in the former tray base and the recessed portion acts as a gully portion.
4. Apparatus according to clann. 3 wherein the gully portion is formed i integrally with the plate.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the gully portion includes engagement means to allow the same to be engaged with a drainage assembly which is located to the underside of the shower base assembly when located in a position for use.
6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the plate includes a series of side walls which include at least one straight sidewall.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least a plurality of the said sidewalls arc straight and angularly offset with respect to adjacent side walls.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plate includes a peripheral skirt or flange which locates on a lip formed around the edge of the aperture in the former tray base which acts to support the plate in position.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plate is formed of an upper portion and a lower portion of different shapes and the upper portion is substantially circular and the lower portion ha.s side walls and at least one of the side walls is formed so as to prevent rotation of the plate when positioned in the former tray base.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the aperture in the former tray base into which the plate is to be located includes an upper portion which is substantially the same shape as the upper portion of the plate and a lower portion which is substantially the same shape as the lower portion of the plate and which receives the said plate such that the upper surface of the plate is substantially flush with the upper surface of the former tray base.
11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said plate includes an upper face which is substantially the same shape as at least an upper portion of the aperture of the former tray base and locking means to be selectively located with one of a plurality of locking means formed on the former tray base.
11 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the orientation of a drainage outlet of the plate with respect to the former tray base and/or floor joists which underlie the position of the former tray and with respect to which the former tray base is attached, is selected by a relative rotational movement of the plate with respect to the aperture in the former tray base and once selected, the plate is lowered into the aperture in the shower base so that the respective engagement of the plate with the shower base portion is achieved and, when in position, no rotational movement of the plate with respect to the former tray base so that the orientation of the drainage outlet is locked with respect to the former tray base.
13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said aperture in the former tray base is offset to the centre axis of the former tray base such that the relative position of the aperture in the former tray base is adjustable with respect to the floor structure on which the same is to be used between at least two positions.
14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the former tray base is cut to a. selected dimension at the point of installation and the former tray includes a series of guide formations to illustrate the locations at which a potential cut can be made without adversely affecting the strength of the former tray base.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the number of possible positions of the plate with respect to the former tray base is at least one less than the number of straight side walls provided on the said plate.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the former tray base and/or plate are provide with engagement means which ensure that the number of possible positions of the plate with regard to the former aperture is one less than a number of straight side edges of said plate and/or aperture.
17.. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the walls of the aperture in the former tray base or plate include one protrusion or recess and the sidewalls of the other of the former tray base or plate include a number of the other of protrusions or recesses.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein adjacent to some but not all of the straight edge of the plate there is at least one recess or protrusion so as to allow one of the recesses or protrusions to be selectively positioned with the other of a protrusion or recess of the former tray base.
19. Apparatus according to any of claims 16-18 wherein the plate and former tray base aperture each have N side walls and one of the side walls of the former tray aperture side walls does not have a recess or protrusion so that that the plate is positionable in N -1 positions in the said aperture and locked therein by one of a recess or protrusion therein being positioned with the other of a protrusion or a recess of the former tray base.
20. Apparatus according to clans 19 wherein the number of straight sidewalls of the plate is 12.
21. Apparatus according toto any of the preceding claims wherein the former tray base is provided with two portions which extend outwardly from the aperture, a first portion which is located at the periphery of the former and depends inwardly towards the aperture and a second portion which is located intermediate of the first portion and the aperture.
22. A shower base assembly, said assembly including a former tray base for placement on a support surface or surfaces, said former tray base including an aperture formed therein which has a support for a plate portion to be selectively-located in said aperture in one of the range of possible positions and wherein, when placed and supported in position in the aperture in the selected position, rotation of the plate portion about its centre axis relative to the former tray base is not possible and the said aperture and the said plate include the same number of angularly offset, substantially straight, sidcwalls.
23. An assembly according to claim 22 wherein both the side walls of the plate and the part of the said former tray base aperture into which the plate portion is located are of substantially the same dimensions.
24. An assembly according to claim 22 wherein when the plate is positioned in and located with the said aperture a substantially Flush external, upper surface of the former tray is formed by the base and plate.
25. An assembly according to claim 24 wherein support is provided on the former tray base for the plate portion by one or more slur' ts which extend inwardly from a lower portion of said aperture to lie below the external upper surface of the former tray base and on which the underside of at least part of the plate contact.
26. An assembly according to any of claims 22-25 wherein the plate portion includes a drain aperture formed therein which is offset from the centre axis of the said plate portion.
27. An assembly according to darn]. 26 wherein adjacent to the said drain aperture there are provided engagement formations to allow a drain assembly to be located therewith in a recessed area of the plate so as to form a drain gully integrally with the said plate portion.
28. An assembly according to any of claims 22-27 wherein the former tray base includes at least on the external upper surface, fall lines and the said plate is provided with fall lines on at least the upper surface thereof which, when the plate is in position on the former tray base encourage the flow of water from the periphery of the former tray base towards the said plate and then across the plate towards a drain aperture formed in the plate.
29. An assembly according to claim 28 wherein the former tray base and plate together form the former tray with an interface of said fall lines at which the angle of the fall lines changes.
30. An assembly according to claim 29 wherein the interface is located at the join between the edges of the plate and former tray base.
31. An assembly according to claim 29 wherein the interface is located on the former tray base and is offset from the join between the plate and the former tray base.
32. An assembly according to any of claims 22-32 wherein when the said plate is provided in location with the aperture of the former tray base the external surface of the former tray base and portion together form a. frustoconical shape with the drain gully being located at the centre of the same.