US2198605A - Composite sanitary fixture - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1940. H. A. FABER v COMPOSITE SANITARY FIXTURE Filed Sept. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Her er A.Faber fife/(e ms RNEY April 30, 1940. H. A. FABER 2,198,605

COMPOSITE SANITARY FIXTURE Filed Sept. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR erberf Faber HIS ORNEY Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE comrosm simmer mm Herbert ma Faber, Cincinnati, om

Application September :4, 1m, N0. 31,411

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tary fixture may provide for concealed installation of plumbing above the floor line, and, in pre- 15 ferred embodiments, for supply and drainage plumbing in common for both lavatory and bath tub.

The component sanitary devices are assembled relative to one another to provide a compact uni- 20 tary arrangement of preferably right triangle formation. Accordingly, the sanitary fixture is adapted as a standard installation for a wide variety of types of bathroom construction, the right triangle formation being applicable for in- 25 stallation at any right-corner which has sufilcient clearance along the lengths of the walls defining the corner to fully accommodate the combined devices.

The bath tub, contemplated as a component 30 part of the sanitary fixture, is itself of novel configuration, not only for the purpose of contributing to the right-triangle formation of the assembly, but, also, for providing a shower stall of comf ortable dimensions within substantially the cen- 35 tral zone of the triangular formation.

The water closet device is associated with'the bath tub. to complete the right triangle formation of the sanitary fixture, and, desirably, to provide for service from concealed-above-the-fioor 40 andwoutside-the-wall piping. Its bowl projects outwardly from the hypotenuse of the triangle, preferably normal thereto.

The lavatory is disposed adjacent the mid-portion .of the hypotenuse of the triangle with its 5 bowl projecting outwardly, preferably normal thereto. It is advantageously directly associated with the bath tub, so that supply and drainage plumbing may be utilized in common.

The two legs of the right triangle formation 50 are approximately equal, and the projections of the respective bowls of the water closet device and the lavatory are such that With a minimum of spacial encumbrance, a user may have comfortable access to each fixture.

55 Thus it is apparent that a uniquely compact assembly of bathroom sanitary devices is provided in integrated unitary formation adaptable for standard installation in a variety of bathroom constructions. the individual sanitary devices cooperating to afford comfortable accommodation 5 for all sanitary purposes.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a composite all-purpose sanitary fixture adaptable as a standard installation for a variety of types of bathroom construction.

It is an object to provide a novelly configurated bath tub as a primary component of the combination, the bath tub contributing in great measure to the triangular formation of the composite fixture and providing a comfortably proportioned shower stall adjacent the mid-portion of the triangle.

It is another object to provide for concealed above-the-floor and outside-the-wall plumbing for an assembly of sanitary fixtures.

It is a further object to provide for the utilization of supply and drainage piping in common for the lavatory, the bath tub, and the shower stall of the composite fixture.

A right-triangular formation is preferred for the. purpose of rendering the composite fitting standard for a wide variety of bathroom constructions, but it is within the purview of the invention to utilize other triangular formations so long as objectives of the invention are attained.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front perspective view of one embodiment of composite sanitary fixture. pursuant to the invention, as installed, ready for use, in a conventional bathroom. 5

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, illustrating a preferred form of plumbing common to the lavatory 40 and bath tub.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary detail view, in elevation, taken from the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

.Fig. 5 represents an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 8-5, of Fig. 2, illustrating a preferred form of combined supply piping and lighting fixture for the composite sanitary fixture.

Fig. 6 represents a front elevation. partly in section. taken from the line H of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 represents a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1, Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 represents a vertical section taken through the foot portion of the bath tub, on the line 8-8, Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 represents a vertical section taken through the head portion of the bath tub on the ily adaptable to various types of bathroom'construction; and to provide for minimum spacial encumbrance while supplying all of th tomary sanitary facilities. The fixture installed in any right-angle corner of a bathroom in which the walls defining the corner are of sufficient length to accommodate the legs of the right-triangle installation, as is readily apparent from the. illustration of Fig. 1.

The composite sanitary fixture comprises a bath tub III, of novel configuration, a lavatory ll, novelty placed relative to the bath tub, and a water closet device l2, placed relative to the bath tub to complete the right-triangle formation. The thus associated sanitary devices provide not only for convenient and adaptable installation with a minimum of spacial encumbrance, but

also provide for above-the-fioor and outside-thewall plumbing, and for improved dimensional characteristics of the tub proper with respect to the quantity of water necessarily employed for bathing purposes.

To the above ends, the bath tub ID has a head portion 100. of substantially rectangular formation-preferably approximately square. One lateral side, Ilia-l, of the head portion I00. continues substantially rectilinearly to form a lateral side, lllb-l, of the foot portion lllb of the bath tub and to complete the formation of one leg, indicated at i3 of the right-triangle fixture. The other lateral wall, lb-2, of the foot portion lllb diverges outwardly from the preferably rounded foot-end of the foot portion to Joinder with theother lateral wall, Illa-2, of the head portion .llla of the bath tub. Such other lateral wall lob-2 of the foot portion contributes to the formation of the hypotenuse if of the right-triangle fixture. The end wall, Illa-3, of the head portion lilo contributes to the formation of the other leg, indicated at it, of the right-triangle fixture. The lateral wall Illa-2 of the head portion Illa provides for the placement of the water.

closet device l2 in close proximity to thebath tub. The water closet device is, in itself, of substantially right triangle formation and completes the formation of the leg I! and the hypotenuse H.

The bath tub l may be formed of any suitable material as, for example, vitreous china, porcelain-coated cast iron, and enameled pressed metal, the structural details thereof being capable of wide variation within the purview of the various objectives of the invention. As indicated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the walls of the tub proper are preferably arranged such that clearance, see A in the respective figures, is provided for the placement of plumbins, such as water supply piping, see A-i, Fig. 2, and certain of the waste removal pipes, above the fioor B, and outside the walls C.

The arrangement and configuration of the walls of the bath tub are advantageously, although not necessarily, as illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10.

The tub opening of the foot portion lib is considerably reduced in volume, see It, Figs. 2 and 8, over that of the customary bath tub constructions, making for reduction in the quantity of water necessarily used for bathing purposes without sacrificing comfort or usefulness. Such foot portion may be of a height normal for customary bath tub constructions, but is preferably somewhat reduced in height. as clearly appears in Fig. 1, to facilitate entry into and exit from the bath tub.

The tub opening of the head portion Illa preferably has a lower portion, as at H, Fig. 9, of width sufficient to afford comfortable seating and ample supply of wash water during bathing use. Such width may be equivalent to that of standard bath tubs. The head portion Illa of the bath tub is provided with an upper portion which forms an upper tub opening, see it, Fig. 9, having a width greater than the width of the lower tub opening H, such width being sufilcient to provide for arm movement of a bather within the tub and, further, to define the width of a comfortably proportioned shower stall. It is preferred, for shower comfort, that such width be greater than the normal widths ofstandard bath tube. The total height of the head portion Ilia. as can be readily seen from Fig. l, is greater than the normal height of standard bath tubs. The additional height contributes to the formation of a shower stall, and, preferably, determines the placement, with respect to the vertical, of lavatory II. I

As aforestated, the water closet structure 12 is itself of substantially right-triangle formation for completing the right-triangle formation of the sanitary fixture. It preferably comprises a box structure Ila, having a right-angle corner defined by leg portions l2a-l and l2a2, a water closet bowl I 2b disposed substantially centrally of the box structure between the leg portions i2al and I'm-2, respectively, and a flush-water storage tank I20. The box structure 12a may be utilized for various purposes, such as for the housing of a heating radiator or other type of heating unit (not shown). The louvers iiw-S may provide for adjustment in the supply of heated air from the heating unit. By such placement of the heating unit or other heat supply means, the heat supply piping may be above-thefioor and outside-the-wall and concealed together with the plumbing for the sanitary devices. In this manner, the sanitary fixture of the present invention still further provides for the elimination of undue spacial encumbrance in a bath room.

The water closet bowl I2b may be placed on a base, lies-4 of the box structure In, the forward part of the'bowl, as well as the base, advantageously projecting forwardly of the righttriangle sanitary fixture proper, preferably normal to the line of the hypotenuse II, a distance suiilcient to afford convenient access to and use thereof.

The water closet bowl may be of any approved construction, being, in most instances, of vitreous china. In such case, the top of the box structure 12a may be formed integral with the top portion of the bowl [22), see Fig. 9, and may be joined aroaeos 8 to the wall Ilia-'-2 of the head portion of the bath tub in any suitable manner.

The fiush' tank He may, for the sake of symmetry, be of substantially equilateral triangular formation, as shown in Fig.2, aportion thereof extending over the head portion Ila of the bath It should be understood that the particular typ and arrangement of water closet device and its 10 manner of association with thebath tub may be varied considerably over what is here specifically illustrated and described. It is important, however, that the watercloset structure supplement the bath tub in forming the desired right triangular configuration for the composite fixture.

The lavatory II may be of practically any desired configuration and material; preferably it is of conventional configuration, and is formed of material similar to that of bath tub ID. .The lavatory II is advantageously placed at the mid-portion of the hypotenuse I3 of the assembly in alignment with, and forming a part of, the upper portion of the head portion Ilia, see particularly Figs. 1, 3 and 5. Its bowl projects outwardly,

advantageously normal to the hypotenuse I3, a distance sufilclent to afford convenient access to,

. and use thereof. Preferably, the extension of the lavatory Ii and the water closetbowl l2b are approximately equal for the sake of symmetry.

The lavatory II and the bath tub III may be served in common by novel supply and drain plumbing. The supply plumbing, as illustrated in Fig. 5, advantageously includes a shower supply, supply to lavatory and a lighting fixture all in a single unit, see 20, Figs. 5, 6 and '7. The bath tub is supplied through the medium of the lavatory drainage plumbing hereinafter described. The unit 20 comprises hot water and cold water faucet structure, the hot and cold water portions thereof being indicated respectively 2I-and 22. The faucet structure, together with component valve means, as illustrated,.may be of conventional construction. Depending from the portions 2| and 22 of the faucet structure, through provided apertures in the rear top wall Ila of the bowl II, are threaded pipe nipples 2| a and 22a, respectively. Nuts 23 and 24, threaded, respectively, on the pipe nipples 2la and 22a serve, to-

gether with suitable washers, as illustrated, to

' clamp the unit 20 tightly in place on the top wall Ila. Supply piping, as for instance that indicated by A-I, may connect with the nipples 2la and 22a in conventional water sealed manner as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The faucet structure is provided with a spout 25 extending over the bowl opening of the lavatory II for supplying water thereto.

The unit 20 is preferably constructed with a partitioned conduit extending along its length. A

passage 28 is thus provided for the flow of water upwardly to the shower head 21 when the valve 28, disposed in the spout 25, is adjusted to close the passage through such spout 25. The other 05 passage provided by the partitioned conduit of unit 20, and designated 28, affords concealed placement of the electric cables, indicated generally 30, which serve to supply current to lighting fixture 3|. The cables 30 extend downwardly from the unit 20 for connection with any suitable source of electric current (not illustrated).

It is to be noted that the placement of the lavatory II with respect to the bath tub l0, and the placement of the unit 20 with respect to the lavatory ll, coincidentally positions theshower head 21 in correct functional placement ,with respect to'the shower stall.

Supply of water from spout 2| oiunit 2| is indirectly routed to the bath tub II via the bowl 0d the lavatory II. For this purpose. the bowl of I the lavatory II is provided with-drain :piping which may be arranged to dlschargeidirectly into the bath tub. or into the drain piping of the bath tab. at the option of the user.

The drain piping of the lavatory ll advantal0 geously comprises a comparatively short leng h of pipe 32 connected as is customary, in liquid sealed relationship to the receiving aperture provided in the bottom of the bowl of the lavatory. The drain pipe 32 may be provided with a valve 15 seat 32a adapted to receive a seating portion 330 of a' combination stopper and over flow drain fixture 33. The combination stopper and over flow drain fixture 33 may be guided in its descent to closed position by means of a pin 33!) depend- 29 ing into sliding engagement with a guideway formed in the grating 32b of the discharge pipe 32. As conventional in the use of combination stopper and over flow drain fixtures, lowering of the fixture into seated position accomplishes desired stoppage of the discharge outlet, together with the provision of an over fiow drain, and raising of the fixture into normal unseated position, see Fig. 3, permits discharge of waste water from the bowl. so The bath tub I0 is provided with piping which cooperates with the drain piping of the lavatory II in permitting discharge of waste from the bowl of the lavatory into the waste disposal system proper. Advantageously, this piping 5 comprises a length'of pipe 34 having a goose neck upper portion 34a and having a valve seating portion 34?) at its lower end. The pipe 34 is preferably Journalled in a guide bracket 35 for partial rotation in the accomplishment, re- 40 spectively, of its dual functions of acting as a waste discharge medium for the lavatory II and stopper and over flow drain for the bath tub Ill. The guide bracket 35 has a guide track 35a of somewhat spiral 'formation running upwardly 45 from bottom to top. The track 330 serves to carry and guide a runner 38 which projects from the outer wall of the pipe 34 adjacent the goose neck upper portion 34a. Partial rotation of the pipe 34 may be accomplishedby manually graspg0 ing the goose neck upper portion 34a. During such rotation, the guide track 33a, cooperating with the runner 33, effects either lowering of the pipe so that the. valve seating portion 34b seats in coordination with valve seat 31a of drain pipe 53 31 leading from the bath tub Ill, or raising of the pipe 34 so that the opening in the goose neck upper portion 34a is-brought adjacent the drain pipe 32 of the lavatory II. The lower end of pipe 34 may be provided with a pin 34c depending 00 into sliding engagement with a guideway of grating 31b. The pipe 34 is so arranged in its guide bracket that raising of the pipe brings the open-' ing of its goose neck portion 34a into vertical registry with the discharge end of drain pipe 32, es and that lowering of the pipe removes such opening from the vicinity of such discharge end. Thus, when the pipe 34 is raised the waste discharging from the bowl of the lavatory ll passes through the pipe 34 and into the drain pipe 31""! of the bath tub Ill, and, thence, out through the waste piping 38 of the system. Lowering of the pipe 34 brings valve seating portion 34!) into seating coordination with valve seat 31a and enables filling of the bath tub through the pipe 32 15 4- 4 2,1es,sos

which now functions to supply water directly to posed against such walls, an effective partial enclosure for the shower stall is provided. The walls may be faced with suitable water resistant material of any well known type, as is indicated at 40 and 4|, Fig. 1, to a height determined by the placement of the shower head 21. The shower stall may be further enclosed by the provision of a partition wall 42 rising from the wall lilo-2 of the head portion ofthe bath tub l0, and by a swinging panel I advantageously hinged to the partition 42 and conveniently carrying a mirror on its outer surface for use in connection with use of the lavatory ll. As illustrated, the mirror panel I is preferably cut short at its lower ,end to afford access from the bath tub and shower stall to the handles of the faucet structures 2| and 22 of the unit 20. The shower stall may, if desired. be further enclosed by the provision of a swinging panel 44 of suitable waterproof material hinged to the waterproof material 40. Thus, by swinging the panel 44 into a position across the lower foot portion of the bath tub l adj acent the higher walls of the head portion of the bath tub, the shower stall may be substantially completely enclosed against the splash of water, affording privacy in addition.

While it is preferable to complete the upper portion of the shower stall in the manner aforedescribed, it can be readily appreciated that the shower stall may be enclosed above the bath tub level in a variety of ways.

The configuration of the fiush tank lie of the water closet structure, as here illustrated, lends itself to the support of a triangular closet structure it, useful for the storage of medicines, toilet articles, and the like. Such closet structure is a desirable addition to the assembly for providing symmetry of design.

Vertical piping, see 48, Fig. 1, for the composite sanitary fixture is advantageously placed at the.

right-angle vertex of the triangular formation, being concealed by an enclosing wall 41, see Figs. 1 and 2.

The composite sanitary fixture has heretofore been described in its most preferred right-triangular formation as a standard installation for a wide variety of bathrooms. It is obvious, however, that many of the advantageous novel features of the combination may be had even though the formation deviates to a certain extent from the preferred true right-triangle.

In every instance, however, the bath tub will include the vertex of greatest angle, will have one of the vertices of lesser angle at its foot portion, and will provide a shower stall adiacent the mid-portion of the triangle. Also, in every instance one side wall of the bath tub will form a part of the longest side of the triangle, another side wall of the bath tub will, per se, form one of the shorter sides of the triangle, and the end wall of the head portion of the bath tub will form a portion of the other lesser side of the triangle. Whereas this invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionas set forth herein and in the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A composite sanitary fixture of triangular configuration comprising a bath tub having one substantially rectilinear side wallwhich extends from end to end thereof, a side wall which, together with one end of said rectilinear side wall, forms substantially one of the lesser angled vertlces of the said triangular configuration, and an end wall which, together with the other end of said rectilinear side wall, forms substantially the greatest angled vertex of the said triangular configuration, the end of said bath tub adjacent said greatest angled vertex being of a size sufiicient to provide a shower stall within the confines of said triangular configuration: water closet structure completing the said triangular configuration; and supply pipins .serving said bath tub and said water closet structure, said supply piping being disposed and concealed within the confines of the composite sanitary fixture.

2. A composite sanitary fixture of triangular configuration comprising a bath tub having one substantially rectilinear side wall which extends from end to end thereof, a side wall which, together with one end of said rectilinear side wall, forms substantially one of the lesser angled vertlces of the said triangular configuration, and an end wall which, together with the other end of said rectilinear side wall, forms substantially the greatest angled vertex of the said triangular configuration, the end of said bath tub adjacent said greatest angled vertex being of a size sufilcient to provide a shower stall within the confines of said triangular configuration; water closet structure completing the said triangular configuration; a lavatory disposed adjacent the top and the shower stall portion of the bath tub with its bowl projecting outwardly from the longest side of said triangular configuration; a supply plumbing fixture serving the lavatory, bath tub, and shower coincidentally; common drainage piping serving said bath tub and said lavatory; and supply piping serving said plumbing fixture and said water closet structure, said supply piping being disposed and concealed within the confines of the composite sanitary fixture.

3. A composite sanitary fixture of triangular configuration comprising a bath tub having one substantially rectilinear side wall which extends from end to end thereof, a side wall which, together with one end of said rectilinear side wall, forms substantially one of the lesser angled vertlces of the said triangular configuration, and an end wall which, together with the other end of said rectilinear side wall, forms substantially the greatest angled vertex of the said triangular configuration, the end of said bath tub adjacent said one lesser angled vertex having walls of a height affording relatively easy access to the interior of the bath tub, and the end of said bath tub adjacent said greatest angled vertex being of increased height definlng a shower stall.

4. A composite sanitary fixture of substantially right-triangle formation, comprising a bath tub having one end which converges to form one of the lesser angled vertlces of the triangle and having its other end enlarged to form a shower stall, said enlarged end including the right-angled vertex of the right-triangle formation, one side wall of said bath tub forming one entire leg of the right-triangle formation, one side wall of said bath tub forming a portion of the other leg of the right-triangle formation, and one side wall of said bath tub forming a portion of the hypotenuse of the right-triangle formation; water closet structure completing the right-triangle formation; and a lavatory disposed adjacent the top of the bath tub and adjacent the mid-portion 1 9,168,005 of the hypotenuse of said right-triangle i'or'mai tion with its bowl extending outwardly from the confines of said right-triangle formation.

5. A bath tub comprising. a head portion of substantially rectangular formation and a foot portion which converges to substantially an apex, said foot portion having one side which forms a substantially rectilinear continuation of one of thesides of the head portion.

6. A bath tub as recited in claim 5 wherein the walls defining the head portion are of considerably increased height over the height of the walls defining the foot portion.

7. A composite sanitary fixture of triangular formation comprising a bath tub: a lavatory disposed above the bath tub; a supply plumbing fixture directly serving the lavatory and indirectly serving 'the bath tub through the lavatory; a drain for the lavatory arranged to empty directly into the bath tub; a pipe having a gooseneck upper end articulatively mounted in the bath tub below saidlavatory drain. said pipe having its lower end of valve formation; a drain for the bath tub disposed below said pipe in alignment with the lower end thereof, said drain being provided with valve seating means for. cooperation with said valve formation at the lower end of said pipe to stopper said drain; a guideway mounting for said pipe so arranged and constructed that pivotal movement of said pipe within said mounting raises and lowers said pipe bringing the opening of said goose-neck upper end into re try with said lavatory drain when said pipe is raised, and out of registry when said pipe is lowered-into stopper position relative to said bath tub drain.

8. In combination with a composite sanitary fixture of triangular configuration, which sanitary fixture includes a bath tub, a lavatory disposed relative to the bath' tub for drainage thereinto, and a shower stall formed within the bath tub, a plumbing fixture for supplying water to said lavatory, said bath tub, and said shower stall, said plumbing fixture comprising a conduit partitioned to form passages along the length thereof, electric lighting means at the top end of said conduit in communication with one of the said passages of the conduit; electric wiring running through said one passage and connected with said electric lighting means for supplying the same with power: iaucet means formed ad- Jacent the lower end of the conduit in communication with another of said passages of the conduit; supplying piping leading to said faucet means; a shower head disposed adjacent the top of the conduit in communication with the same passage with which said faucet means commtmicates; a manually settable valve for directing supply either to the outlet of said faucet means or to said shower head; and means securing said plumbing fixture to said sanitary fixture.

HERBERT ALFRED FABER.

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