US2419801A - Bathtub construction - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1947. F. P. UPHUEs BATH TUB CONSTRUCTION Filed May 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1947. F, p. UPHUES BATH TUB CONSTRUCTION Filed May l5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1947 oEElcE BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION Frank P. Uphues, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 415, 1944, Serial No. 535,703 3V Claims. (Cl. 4-173) This invention relates to bath tubs and th'e like and is more particularly concerned with a bath tub construction in which an ornamental prefabricated enclosure unit is provided for preliminary installation in a bathroom and is formed with an opening therein to receive a bath tub for demountable support and connection therewith.

In the construction of bathrooms it has heretofore been the practice to provide bath tubs with an integral enclosing and supporting skirt extending from the upper end of th'e bath tub to the floor on the exposed portion thereof, and with integral flange portions extending from the bath tub for substantially permanent engagement with the adjacent wall structure. This form of construction is commonly known and is referred to as the built-in type of bath tub. It is desirable due to its compact appearance and space saving arrangement,'but it embodies certain objectionable features which the applicants invention has been designed to overcome.` It has heretofore been the practice necessarilyto install the built-in type of tub during the early part of the construction of a house and to thereby subject the tub to severe abuse and damage during nal construction. In the event this type of tub is so damaged as to necessitate its removal during construction or thereafter, the expense and labor is relatively very great due to its built-in features as referred to. Another disadvantage inherent in this type of tub resides in the frequent formation of cracks between the tub and its line of connection with the walls of a room due to shrinkage or shifting of the tub. These and other disadvantages have been overcome in applicants improved tub construction as hereinafter set forth.

Briefly, this invention comprises a tub enclosure having a top portion formed with an openin'g therein to receive a tub for demountable engagement therein. Flanges extend upwardly from the top portion of the enclosure for engagement with the walls of a room, and a skirt extends downwardly from other sides of the top portion and from wall to wall to conceal that portion of the tub remote from the wall. Longitudinally and transversely disposed frame supports are provided for fixed, built-in engagement with the room structure to engage and support the under side of the tub and its enclosure member. A suitable sealing engagement is provided between the periphery of the opening in the enclosure and the tub to prevent leakage therebetween;

An object of this invention is to provide a bath.

tube construction in which a suitable tub enclosure may be built in to a bathroom and provided with an opening to receive a bath tub for leak'- proof, detachable engagement therein to permit the ready `installation or removal of the bath tub during construction or thereafter, thereby retaining the advantages of a built-in bath tub construction and also permitting the relatively easily marred tub to be readily installed or removed after construction of th'e bathroom.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a bath tub construction in which the bath tub enclosure and the bath tub may be formed of dissimilar materials, and the enclosure may be of various sizes and shapes to suit the selected bathroom dimensions'while the bath tub or basin portion may be formed in'a single size or shape if desired. A furtherY object of this invention resides in the provision of a bath tub construction in which a shrinkage or shifting of the bath tub does not cause the formation ofcracks or other damage on the walls of a bathroom. l

This invention furthercontemplates in combi- -nation therewith the provision of novel support'- ing means for a bath tub andits enclosure whereby th'eir combined weight is distributed over a relatively large supporting area by forming 'a base for the same consisting essentially of lon'- gitudinally and transversely extending supporting' members.` f

The invention embodies otherA novel features, details of construction an'd arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forthin the specications and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, wherein: Y Y Y Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a bath tub construction for enclosure by three walls of a room and embodying features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

p Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a modined form of bath tub construction for built-in engagement with' two walls of a room.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing a further modification of this invention in which the supporting ange providedon the tub enclosure is turned upwardly for engagement under a rolled-over rim flange formed on the tub.

Referring now to the drawings for a better 11nderstanding of this invention, a bath tub 6 is formed with a bottom 1, walls 8, anda flange 9 which extends outwardly from the upper periphery of the walls 8. A tub enclosure I is formed with a top portion or surface I I which' is bent inwardly at `I2 and then parallel with the top portion to provide a supporting flange I3 deiining an opening I4 to receive the tub. A skirt I6 is bent downwardly from the top surface to conceal the lower portion of the tub, and side flanges 1;'1 are bent upwardly'from thet topzsurf face forline engagement with theV wall' sur:- facing material (not shown). The lower end of the skirit may be bent inwardly at I8, if sired, to provide toe space.

Longitudinally extending supporting members I9 and transversely extending` members; 2J are. 15J disposed under the bath tub: and the-elicit4 sure I 0 to support same andpreferably hav-ing,

their upper edges conforming to the outline oi" The end.

the surfaces being engaged thereby. portions 22 of the members I9 and 2| are provided for engagement with thestructural. members oa house, and the bottom'. edges 23' of: the members cover a relatively large: area to'distribute the-load thereon.

A sealingv gasket 24^formed .ofany suitable material' ispreferably interposed between the supportingifiange I.3i and the bathtubange, and a sealing material 2liV ismounted in the. corner denedbytheienclosure-portionI I2| and the-flange 9. The bathl tub may be` gripped and iii-ted from its; position in theenclosure member by means of the usual drain opening 2J andoverow opening 2l formedthereim Fig. 4 showsAa modied form of. this invention im which. theelscirt-y I6- extends( along onefsde. and one end of the; enclosure lil,v the invention being thus; applied to'tliel corner type. of tub. Several of the transversely extendingsupporting membersll in thisviewfA are shnwn in: incomplete outline iny orderito.- avoid. possible confusion. from intersecting dotted lines. v Y

Fig.. lshowsa further modication of thisY in.- vention in which aneenclosure member 3| is provided. with an. upturned' supporting flange 32 for engagement. under a. rolled-over-fiange` 33 formed oni the bath tub34..

While.. this; invention has. beenshownirr. sev*- eral forms itis obvious to those skilled in theart that itv isnot so limited. but is susceptibleo vari;- -ouschanges and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the appendedolaims.

lclaim:

i.. The combination with-abathxtub having; a mlledfoverrimportion, of an enclosure member having atopportion to. receive a bath tub, a. vertically/ disposed tub'supporting flange defining-r an opening in said top portion, a skirt portion ex'- ltending downwardly from said top portion, and

flanged portions extending upwardly from said top portion and along the side thereof not provided with the skirt portion, oor supported members disposed beneath the said bathtub having their upper edges conforming to the outline of a portion of the exterior surfaces of the bathtub.

2. The combination with a, bath tub having a rolled-over, rim portiornofv an enclosure member having: at` top portion to"n receive a bath tub, a vertically disposed tub supporting flange dening an opening in said top portion, a, skirt portion extendingdownwardly from said top portion, flanged portions extending upwardly from said top portionand-.along-:thefsides thereof not provided with theaportion, and longitudinally and transversely extending, supporting members engaging the undersides of'the bath tub and said top por- .timrthe said supporting members having upper portions for support of the flanged portions of the saidenclosure member extending; upwardly from said .top:por.tion.

3-.. A combined bathtub and enclosuremember therefor, the said'enclosure. member having a top. portion to receive the bathtub, avertically disposedY bathtub supporting. flange defining an opening. inthe said. topl portion, a skirt portion extending downwardly from said top portion, flanged portions extending upwardly from said ktopportonand along the sides thereof not provided. with the skirt portion, a frameunderlying thel enclosure: and: portions of thev bathtub, the said frame.4 comprising cross-connected supporting means` with end projecting portionsfor engagement with a. reomelement, said means supporting. theY underside and walls of the bathtub and theenclosure.

FRANK P. UPHUES.

REFERENCES CITED The following; references are. ofl record in the file of thisi patents.

UNITED STATES PATENTS..

French July 20, 1934

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