US2741778A

US2741778A - Shower door assembly

Info

Publication number: US2741778A
Application number: US462659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph J Dietrich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-10-18
Filing date: 1954-10-18
Publication date: 1956-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1973-04-17

Description

April 17, 1956 R. J. DIETRICH 2,741,778

SHOWER DOOR ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. HA1. PH :Z 015 TE/ CH ATTORNEY.

April 17, 1956 R. J. DIETRICH SHOWER DOOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 00 18, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

,4 T TOQNEY.

ALPH (I; D/ETQ/CH,

Unite States SHOWER DOOR ASSEMBLY Ralph J. Dietrich, Los Angeles, ilalif.

Application October 18, B54, Serial No. 462,659

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-145) This invention relates generally to improved bathing stall enclosures of the type comprising either or both movable and stationary panels, and more particularly has to do with improved panel assemblies facilitating ready access from shower stall interior to bathing equipment supported on the outer or dry side of such assemblies, the invention having desirable application to bathing stall door assemblies.

With regard to conventional shower stall construction in which, for example, an ordinary door separates the wet interior of the stall from the dry exterior, the wet bather is considerably inconvenienced in having to open the door and reach or step outward to obtain a drying towel or other equipment, which must be kept dry. In so doing, there is presented the danger of slipping on the wet fioor of the shower stall or on the floor exterior to the stall, which also becomes wet as water drips from the bather. To my knowledge, no way has been found to eliminate these inconveniences, other than storing the drying towel somewhere within the shower stall interior, wherein the risk is created that the towel will become at least dampened, no matter how well stored during the showering process.

My proposed shower stall door assembly has distinct advantages over conventional and prior doors of this type in that means are now provided enabling the bather to gain ready access to dry bathing equipment without having to open the door and risk a fall by stepping or reaching out of the stall. Furthermore, the door assembly is such as to maintain the bathing equipment in a thoroughly dry condition, since communication between the interior of the stall and the support for the bathing equipment may be completely out off during showering. In addition, the support is so located as to be readily accessible from the exterior of the shower stall, facilitating replacement of the equipment without having to open the door.

In keeping with the above described advantages, there is provided in the upper portion of the shower stall door a through opening communicating between the inner and outer sides of the door. A closure for the opening is hinged to open toward the inner side of the door, and the closure is preferably offset from the door so that a support for bathing equipment may be contained within the door assembly. To keep the support dry, the closure is normally retained in closed or covering relation with the opening at the shower stall side thereof, so that the support is readily accessible from the shower stall exterior. Access to the support from the interior of the shower stall is gained by swinging the closure away from the opening and into the stall interior.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will appear more fully understood from the following descrip tion of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view of the outside of the shower door assembly;

Fig. 2 is a partly cutaway view of the rear of the shower door assembly facing the interior of a shower stall;

2541378 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the door taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another section taken through the door on line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a small portion of the door taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

As will appear from the drawings, the shower door assembly 1'5 is mounted within a rectangular opening 11 provided by shower stall entrance framework 12, which is afiixed to the tiled wall 13. The door assembly is pivotally mounted to the outer framework 12 by means of a vertical piano hinge 14 having one arm connected to the edge of the door frame 15 and the other arm joined to the leg of a right angle door jamb 16 mounted against the outer framework 12, as shown in Fig. 4. Another door jarnb 16 is provided on the opposite side of the door on framework 12, so that the projecting legs of the jambs limit closing of the door as it swings toward the interior of the shower stall, in the usual manner.

Door frame 15, which defines the perimeter of the door assembly, is shown to comprise a U-shaped or channeled member opening toward the center of the door assembly. Extending horizontally between and joined to the vertically extending sections of the frame is another frame member of support 17, which may be conveniently formed to have an H-shape in section for the purposes to be described. That portion of the door assembly beneath support 17 may be constructed in the usual manner to include, for example, an opaque glass panel 18, the edges of which are enveloped by

rubber channels

19 and 191, which pref- I erably comprise neoprene or other synthetic rubber material. The

rubber channels

19 and 191 may be pressure set within the channels in support 17 and frame 15 to form a water-tight seal therewith.

That portion of the shower door assembly above the support includes the novel construction which will now be described. The door frame 15 above the support 17 and the support itself generally define an opening 20 through the door, also bounded by a horizontal shelf 21 at the base of the opening and vertical side panels 22 at the sides of the opening. A closure 23 is carried at the rear of the through opening, ofiset from the plane of the door frame 15 toward the interior of the shower stall, and it forms along with the side panels and the shelf a type of open-front cabinet which is recessed toward the closure and toward the interior of the shower stall. The tops of the closure 23 and door frame 15 are spaced considerably below the top of entrance framework 12 to provide a steam exit therebetween.

The shelf is shown to include a downward projection 24, contained in rubber channel 25, which is pressure-set within an upwardly facing channel in support 17. The shelf 21 also includes front and rear uprights 26, the latter being joined to vertical door jambs 27 formed on opposite side panels 22. Vertical flanges 28 carried by the panels and projecting at right angles thereto are pressureset in rubber channels 29 carried within opposite side frame members 15.

The closure 23 is shown to comprise a rectangular frame 3% supporting a rectangular pane of glass 31, the edges of which are enveloped by a rubber channel 32. The latter is pressure-set within the channeled frame 30 to form a water-tight seal therewith. Swinging movement of the closure 23 toward the interior of the shower stall is facilitated by a hinge 33, one arm of which is joined to a vertical side portion of the frame 30 and the other arm of which is connected to an extension 34 of the side panel 22. It goes without saying that the hinge 33 is positioned in such a way as to allow the closure to swing into position against the jambs 27 whenever closing of the through opening 20 is desired.

In conformance with the invention, a horizontal towel what 35 is supported between opposite side panels 22 in the position shown in Fig. 3, and towels .36 may be conveniently suspended from the bar as shown in Fig l. In addition, other bathing' equiprnentgmay be carried by the shelf 21 beneath the ban. sinceqthe the:interior of the stall. cannot wet the .towelshor other bathing equipment on -the shelf when the closure isclosed, VJhen-the batherdesiresfto dryhimself, he

7 need only swing. the closure inwardly toward the stall so asto gain readyaccess to. the towels 36,,instead of closure, 23.-is,positioned between. the. interior of, the shower stall and the'towel bar and shelf, watenfrom.

having to open-.the shower door itself and .step out of.

thestall. Access totthe towel -bar fromhtheaexterior.

' stall the. towels will. also be carried inward for. ready use.

While the door. assembly 18 has been. shown .and deseribedras, pivotallyconnected to the. outer framework 12,,litmay. he. desirableto. mount. the door .panel .for sliding movement behind .a stationary shower. stall-panel, in .which casethe frlamestructure. for the openingshould.

not projectibeyondnthe plane of the door. ontheoutside thereo hv It is,.alsowithinthe. .conternplationso'r the.

invention .to..-oper.atively. combine .the closure vand'frame structure .withl.an., opening in, a .stationary vshower stall panelrather, thanhthe door.

1.,In.com,binatio,n .with a bathingstall shower struc-. ture comprising walls enclosing a stall compartment and.

water, shower means withinithe compartment, an improved movable door assembly comprising an upright bathingstallmain door for forming a portion of said Wallsandthe stall enclosure and having an opening in the upper portion thereof through which unobstructed. access maybe had from the inside of the door to its outside, a movable closure for said opening, directly accessible at the inside of the door for movement in- Wardly of the stall by an occupant thereof, and a towel support carriedby said main door at the outside of said closure and, extending substantially horizontally and parallel to the plane, of said door. for .carrying a towel so.

that the towel is always accessible; from the inside of the door throng): said opening when said closure is opened and jatthe outside of said doorwhileremainingin the same, position relative to the door.

'2.In' combination with a bathing stall shower structure, comprising Walls enclosing a stall compartment and Water shower means within the compartment, an improved movable door assembly comprising an upright bathing stall main door for forming a portion of said walls and the stall enclosure and including a frame forming an opening in the upper portion of the door through which unobstructed access may be had from the inside of the door to. its outside when the door remains closed, a movable closure for said opening hinged to said frame. anddirectly"accessibleaat the inside of the door for swinging movement inwardly of the stall by an occupant thereof, and a-towel support bar carried by said frame at thev outside of saidclosure and extending substantially horizontally and parallel to the plane of said door for carryinga. towel so that the towel is always accessible from the inside of the door through said opening when said closure is opened and at the outside of said door while remaining in the same positionrelative to. the door.

'3.-In combination witha bathing stallshower structure comprising walls encloisng ,a stallcompartmentand water. shower means within the compartment, an im proved .movabledoor assembly comprising an upright bathing .stall.main.,.door for forming a portion of said walls and the stall 'enclosureand including a frame door plane, a movable closure hinged to one of said frame sides in inwardly ofi'set relation to said door plane and direetly'accessible at the inside of the door for movement inwardly of the stall by anoccupant thereof, and 'a towel support bar carried by said frame sides at. the outside of said' closureand. extending across said.

opening substantially. horizontally and parallel to the plane of said door for carrying a towelso that the towel. is always accessible from the inside of the door through said opening when, said closure is opened and 'at the.

outside of said door while remaining in'tlre same posi* tion relative to the 'door.

4.Th'e invention as defined in claim 3 in which said frame includes an upper cross member connecting 'said sides, said;member. extending substantially" parallel to said bar and. spaced a substantial distance thereabove.

References-Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED..STAJES PATENTS 1,531.;776 Altschul. Apr; 20,. 1926 2,595,506.: Baokman a May 6,1952 I 2,632,531 Marchand. Man 24, 1953