US2199791A

US2199791A - Bathtub modernizing shield

Info

Publication number: US2199791A
Application number: US214117A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert P Gwynn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-06-16
Filing date: 1938-06-16
Publication date: 1940-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1957-05-07

Description

y 7. 1940. A. P. GWYNN BATHTUB MODERNIZING SHIELD Filed June 16, 1938 Patented May 7, i946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATHTUB MODERNIZING SHIELD Albert t. Gwynn, Richmond, Va. Application June 16, 1938, Serial No. 214,117

6 Claims.

This invention relatesto shields or casings for modernizing bathtubs of the type commonly set on legs clear of the floor and having a curved rim around the top edge defining an annular recess or' gutter. Bathtub shields or casings heretofore used for modernizing purposes generally made use of an intermediate supporting frame structure for the shield or casing panels, which frame structure involved additional labor and expense and ofttimes was not feasible for certain installations.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a modernizing bathtub shield or casing wherein supporting frame work extending from the floor line to the tub rim is dispensed with, while at the same time maintaining a firm anchorage and ample rigidity of the casing or shield.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bathtub shield or casing wherein the parts may be applied easily and quickly in close-jointed harmonious relation.

A further object of the invention is to simplify, beautify and generally improve bathtub shields or casings.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a bathtub having a shield 01' casing installed in conjunction therewith embodying the features of the present invention, part of the shield being broken away to more fully show certain parts of the assembly;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the bathtub proper is of that type having a downwardly curved rim 6a around the top portion thereof defining a recess 1, the tub being supported such as by feet or legs not shown clear of the floor.

The shield or casing of the present invention is preferably made of sheet metal of a suitable gauge, such as that used in automobile bodies, pressed or rolled into the desired shape. I have found that automobile body sheet metal will retain its shape permanently when installed as herein disclosed.

The casing is made up of a series of

panels

25 and 26 having flanged portions at opposite ends thereof adapted to telescope into flanged capsor hoods 21 and 210., the coacting flanged edges of the panels and hoods or caps being connected in any suitable manner, such as by screws 28a, note Fig. 1. The top edges of the

casings

25 and 26 preferably fit snugly into the recessdefined'by the curved flange 6d, while the lower edges of the panels may be anchored in any-suitable manner, as for example, by blocks 29 cemented to the floor at intervals, or secured to the floor by other means such as nails or screws. However, to simplify the construction, thelower edges of the sheets may be caused to frictionally engage the floor, or be jammed thereagainst, or anchored in any other simplified manner. To insure against buckling, a member in the form of a piece of angle iron 30, may be secured as by welding'to the side of the tub, note particularly Fig. l. The end panels 21 and 21a serve to secure the

side panels

25 and 26 in position about the tub, stiffen the panel assembly and give easy and convenient access to the plumbing connections of the tub, such connections not being shown.

The molding trim may also be given attractive designs, and in general the use of the shield of this nature will, at a relatively small cost, provide a bath tub even more attractive than many modern types of tubs now to be found on the market.

It will be understood that certain changes in structure and design may be made in the improved shield or casing without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: 1

1. A shield or 'c'asing for modernizing bathtubs of that type having a curved rim around the top of the tub defining an annular recess, comprising panels of sheet material shaped to conform to the contour of the tub with the upper edges of said panel projecting into said recess, the opposite ends of said panels being formed with securing flanges, and means at opposite ends of the tub telescoped over said flanges and secured thereto for anchoring said sheets in position on opposit sides of the tub.

2. A shield or casing for modernizing bathtubs of that type having a curved rim aroimd the top of the tub defining an annular-recess, comprising panels of sheet metal or analogous material shaped to conform to the contour of the tub, said panels at their opposite ends being formed with flanged portions, and end caps telescoped over said flanges and having flanged portions secured to the latter, thereby holding said panels in position with respect to said tub.

3. A shield or casing for modernizing bathtubs comprising complementary panels of sheet metal or analogous material shaped to conform to the contour of the tub and to encompass both sides of the tub and portions of the ends thereof, and end panels adapted to engage said complementary first-named panels and secure them in place with respect to said tub.

4. A shield or casing for modernizing bathtubs comprising panels of sheet metal or other material shaped to encompass the sides and por-- tlons of the ends of the tub and end panels positioned so as to engage said first-named panels and to afford access to plumbing and a reinforcing and stiffening member secured to a flat portion of said shield.

5. A shield or casing for modernizing bathtubs of the type having a curved rim around the top of the tub defining an annular recess, comprising a shroud of sheet metal or analogous material covering the sides of the tub with the upper edge of the shroud terminating within the region of I said recess, said shroud terminating at one end of the tub in opposed flanged portions, and an end panel having flanges complementary to the flanges of said shroud and secured thereto, said end panel afiording access to plumbing.

6. A shield or casing for modernizing bathtubs of the type having a curved rim around the top of the tub defining an annular recess, comprising a shroud of sheet metal or analogous material covering the sides of the tub with the upper edge of the shroud projecting into said recess, means anchoring said shroud to the floor on which the tub rests, said shroud at one end of the tub terminating in free edge flanges substantially perpendicular to the floor, and an end panel in the form of a hood having edges complementary to the perpendicular edges of said shroud and secured tothe latter and sustaining and stiffening the shroud, said end panel afiording access to plumbing.

ALBERT P. GWYNN. 25