WO1999034717A1

WO1999034717A1 - Coating for used and deteriorated bath tubs and installation process

Info

Publication number: WO1999034717A1
Application number: PCT/ES1998/000358
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfonso Navarro Torres
Original assignee: Alfonso Navarro Torres
Priority date: 1997-12-30
Filing date: 1998-12-28
Publication date: 1999-07-15
Also published as: ES1039166Y; ES1039166U

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for coating an old and deteriorated bath tub by means of another new bath tub without having to carry out masonry work. To this effect, the new bath tub to be installed and which has been obtained from an initial mold is introduced inside the old bath tub which remains totally concealed under the new bath tub. The new bath tub is slightly smaller than the old bath tub and has the necessary means to facilitate its rapid and simple installation. Furthermore, when installing a new bath tub with additional volumes, including for example a hydromassaging system, false elements corresponding to said additional volumes will be fixed onto the initial mold.

Description

COVERING FOR DETERIORATED USED BATHTUBS

AND PROCEDURE FOR INSTALLATION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, refers to a coating for deteriorated used bathtubs and procedure for their installation. It is intended to proceed with the installation of a new bathtub over another deteriorated bathtub without having to disassemble the latter, nor carry out any masonry work.

Simply, the new bathtub, of slightly smaller proportions than the old bathtub, is introduced inside this old bathtub, being completely hidden by its angular wing that covers the edge of the old bathtub.

It is also envisaged that this new bathtub has the necessary means to facilitate the installation of the corresponding drains and overflows, at the same time as a conversion to a whirlpool bath is possible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, when a bathtub deteriorates, there are several possibilities to solve this problem. In some cases it is changed to a new one, so that for this operation it is necessary to perform a masonry work of some importance.

In other cases, damaged bathtubs are fixed by precise overly expensive restoration work. In addition, the bathtubs arranged in this way, with use they deteriorate again and in the end it will be necessary to change them for new ones.

Another inconvenience caused as a result of the change would be the necessary time of the work, during which it is not possible to make use of the bathtub. On the other hand, there are also systems or procedures (invention patent no. 9002551) for the renovation of bathtubs, where the old bathtub is covered internally with a new synthetic bathtub which will be obtained by means of a fitted mold previously obtained according to the precise measurements of the interior of the old bathtub. This procedure is practically unfeasible due to its technical limitations and its high cost, since a mold would be required for each bathtub.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the problems and inconveniences mentioned in the previous section, the invention proposes a coating for used or damaged bathtubs and a procedure for their installation that simply consists of incorporating a synthetic bathtub inside the old bathtub.

Contrary to the procedure of the invention patent n2 9002551, with this new coating it is not necessary to take precise measurements of the old bathtub or make a specific mold to obtain each new bathtub.

For each of the perimeter measurements of the different bathtubs in the market, a single mold will be used. Thus, with a single mold we have the possibility of inserting a new bathtub into the old bathtub, even if it is from a different manufacturer and / or has different internal measures.

In the present invention, synthetic bathtubs of slightly smaller standard sizes than the old bathtub will be manufactured and with the appropriate angles that allow a perfect coupling in the new bathtub over the old one, both joining first with a quick-drying adhesive product.

Next, the space that remains between the old and the new bathtub will be solidified with a filler and adherent material, so that the new bathtub synthetic is perfectly seated and fixed.

On the other hand, the new bathtub has a perimeter skirt that will advantageously cover and hide the edge of the old bathtub. The drain and overflow outlet, not being previously drilled, in the new bathtub, the installer will be the person who performs it, depending on the location of the bathtub to be coated.

On the other hand, the new synthetic bathtub has in the drain zone located at the bottom, with a wide depression or recess, whose dimensions allow us to place the new drain in the most appropriate place, with the advantage of not being obliged to respect the Drains of the old bathtub and facilitating its new location.

On the other hand, the overflow can be conveniently practiced when it is located in the flattest area, so it is not necessary to recess the fund referred to above. In correspondence with the drains of the two bathtubs, an intermediate pipe will be installed to facilitate the exit of the water, as well as other additional elements to prevent leaks.

The edge or angular wing of the new bathtub has a slight inclination towards the interior so that the water that falls into it, is poured into its interior.

Also this edge or angular wing has dimensions that occasionally allow to compensate for the different widths of the old bathtubs. On the other hand, when the old bathtub has an irregular configuration with different volumes and shapes internally, a solution is provided that includes the incorporation of false pieces as supplements that adapt perfectly to the internal geometry of the corresponding mold , thus providing the necessary volumes and shapes that allow adaptation to bathtubs with special shapes. Therefore, with the inclusion of the false pieces we obtain the desired mold without the need to manufacture a specific one for the old bathtub.

It is also possible to fix these false pieces on the mold to obtain a bathtub different from the old bathtub, and in turn offers us the possibility of transforming or incorporating a hydromassage system, which did not include the old bathtub.

Next, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and forming an integral part thereof, some figures are included in which the object of the invention has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- It is a top plan view of the synthetic material bathtub, object of the invention. It is about covering the damaged old bathtub or used by a new synthetic bathtub inside.

Figure 2.- It is a sectional elevation view of the synthetic bath according to section A-B of the previous figure.

Figure 3.- It is a front view of a bathtub where the area that we removed from the old bathtub has been marked by dashed line.

Figure 4a.- It is a sectioned elevation view of a part of the two bathtubs joined where the part of the perimeter skirts is shown, perfectly covering the new bathtub the skirt of the damaged bathtub.

Figure 4b.- It is a view similar to the previous one, where the angular wing covers the damaged tub that has a different width. Figure 5.— It is a sectional view where They show mainly the elements that participate in the drain, once the two bathtubs are fixed.

Figure 6.- It is a view similar to the previous one where the fixing of the drain elements varies slightly with respect to what is represented in the previous figure.

Figure 7.- It is a sectional view of a conventional bathtub mold that incorporates false pieces to obtain a new bathtub. Figure 8.- It is a perspective view of one of the false pieces.

Figure 9.- It is a sectional view of a part of a mold that includes a perimeter skirt that extends downwards. This skirt originates as a result of a suitable insert that has been fixed to the respective mold.

Figure 10.- It is a plan view of the mold of a bathtub that includes several modular pieces. Figure 11.— It is a plan view of a bathtub that is coupled or inserted over the corresponding mold that includes, among other elements, side pieces; thus obtaining a bath according to the mold and those false pieces. Figure 12.— It is a view of a part of a bathtub mold that incorporates a insert that is fixed in correspondence with the wide mouth of a bathtub.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the numbering adopted in the figures, the coating of used or damaged bathtubs and procedure for its installation consists of a process where the damaged bathtub 1, instead of removing it to change it for another, in principle a new bathtub 2 of material will be attached on the inside of it synthetic, whose dimensions are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the old bathtub 1. Thus, we start from a bathtub 2 made of acrylic material, such as glass fiber reinforced methacrylate. This new bathtub 2 has an angular wing 3 located throughout its perimeter edge.

The aforementioned angular wing 3 has the appropriate width to cover and hide the corresponding edge of the old bathtub, as seen in Figures 4a and 4b. If this were not the case, the edges of the old bathtub would be seen with the consequent aesthetic imperfection.

See Figure 4a as a bathtub, which has a different width, is perfectly covered, producing a small reduction in breast width.

The angular wing 3 has a slight inclination towards the interior of the bathtub to favor the drain.

On the other hand, the upper surface of the bottom of the bath 2 incorporates a prominence 4 to prevent the user from slipping while the water will flow between the aforementioned prominences 4.

The drain inlets 5 and overflow 6 are not perforated, with the installer making the holes, depending on the location of the bathtub to be coated.

Thus, the drainage area incorporates a wide elongated recess 7 in the form of "cow tongue", whose length and width allow the new drain to be placed in the place that is needed or accommodated, being able to move it advantageously in any direction without being obliged to Respect the location of the drains of the old bathtub. All this allows us to save time in adjustments and measures and the possibility of improving the drainage system, especially in those old bathtubs that do not have suitable siphons or elements. All without the need of creating a maze of tubes to fit the location of the old drain.

The overflow 6 can be conveniently practiced when it is located in the flattest area, so it is not necessary to perform a recess like the one in the drain 5.

In figures 3, 5 and 6 three possibilities of coupling are shown graphically between the holes of the old bathtub 1 and the new bathtub 2. Figure 3 shows an old bathtub in which it has been marked by the dashed line 8, a zone for sectioning and exposing the entire area of the drain 5 and overflow 6, to subsequently proceed to the coupling of a drain assembly associable to the synthetic bath 2.

Figure 5 shows another form of coupling between the two facing holes 9 and 10 of the drain of both baths 1 and 2.

The base or grid 12 of the synthetic bath is fixed by means of a central screw 14 to a lower part 13 of the sump 11 of the old bath 1, taking advantage of the central thread presented by said lower part 13.

On the other hand, there is a short flexible tube 16 coaxial to the screw 14 which is responsible for communicating the two drain holes 9 and 10.

The joining areas or joints of the tube 16 with the horizontal surfaces of both bathtubs are sealed with silicone or any other similar material to prevent any water leakage.

An embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 5 is shown in Figure 6, with the difference that the old bathtub does not have a piece to screw the screw 14, then the fixing of the drain must be carried out directly on the hole 10, to which the screw 14 will thread directly into a rocker arm 15 that will be locked in the hole 10.

For the connection of the overflows, a process similar to that described for the drains is carried out. Once the new bathtub 2 is dimensionally adapted to the old bathtub 1 including the cutting of the wing 3 by those sections in which it is necessary, an intermediate support material 17 that stiffens the joint and adheres the parts is applied between both bathtubs 1 and 2 , such as polyurethane foam and joints and joints are covered so that it aesthetically gives the impression of a conventional bathtub, even using profiles to cover said joints and joints.

The measures of conventional bathtubs are increasing from ten in ten centimeters in length and five in five in width. With the coating of the invention, it is only necessary to have so many elements or molds, with their predefined measures, such as perimeter lengths of bathtubs there are, since the width can be compensated with the angular wing 3 and the rest of the connection means already described.

The new bathtubs used are not a copy of the original bathtub as in the invention patent nδ 9002551, but multi-purpose modules for various sizes, and shapes of any brand and model. Said patent of invention claims to need a mold for each renovation, something practically unfeasible for its high cost.

Accordingly, the invention essentially comprises a bathtub dimensionally adaptable to the different models of old bathtubs.

Its realization can be carried out in other ways to the above, while maintaining the protection that is intended.

On the other hand, when it is an old bathtub 1 that internally has a configuration Irregular with different volumes and shapes, it starts from a conventional mold 18, to which are added false pieces 19 that are fixed on the appropriate place of that mold 18, thus obtaining the new bathtub 2 'with the shape perfectly adaptable to the old bathtub with irregular interior configuration.

The inserts 19 also allow to obtain different volumes in bathtubs to cover other old bathtubs of normal configuration and thus provide spaces for inserting nozzles and pipes that allow the transformation of the deteriorated old bathtub 1 into a new bathtub with hydromassage system 20 that The old tub did not possess.

The inserts 19 are constituted by one or more modular elements 21 in order to increase or decrease the volumes generated in the new bathtub 2 '.

The modular pieces 19 fixed on the initial mold 18 not only aesthetically modify the old bathtub 1, but also functionally modify it, thus being able to incorporate the new bathtub 2 ', among others, headrests 22, lumbar supports, etc.

On the other hand, taking advantage of the hole of the overflow 6 of the old bathtub 1, all the pipes necessary for the new hydromassage function 20 are given.

When coupling the new bath 2, 2 'on the old 1, in principle the space between both baths is filled with sealing and filling products 17 of adherent qualities, such as polyurethane foams, silicones, etc.

However, this fixing operation of the new bath poses problems of movement or movement of the new bath during the "curing" (drying) of the sealing and drying products, since for example the polyurethane foams during drying increase volume and therefore to prevent the mobility of the new bath due to the expansion of the polyurethane material, it is necessary to immobilize it with different means filling the new bath with water and propping up the same.

In order to avoid the problem mentioned in the previous paragraph by eliminating the mechanical fixing means, another better solution is provided, which consists in fixing the new bathtub in principle by means of high-adhesion and fast drying adhesive products, such as foam Polyurethane combined with other components. With this new fixing system we achieve a fast and effective immobilization of the new bathtub avoiding mechanical fixing means. Normally, the application of the quick-drying product is combined with the normal drying material to avoid overheating the installation process, such that the normal adhesive product covering the surface of the old bathtub will be applied first. most of that interior surface with the exception of certain strategic areas, then applying the quick-drying adhesive product on them. In a later step the new bathtub will be introduced and fitted inside the old one in order to join both for its immobilization.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- COATING FOR DETERIORATED USED BATHROOMS, which, starting from an old bathtub (1) in which a synthetic bathtub obtained from a mold (18) is introduced inside, is characterized in that said synthetic bathtub is of predefined dimensions and it has the necessary means for its adaptation to the dimensions of the old bathtub (1).

2. COVERING FOR DETAILED USED BATHTUBS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for adapting to the dimensions of the old bathtub (1) presented by the synthetic bathtub (2), comprise a recess (7) in the area corresponding to the drain, in order for the installer to make a drain hole (9), in order to facilitate the connection between said drain hole (9) and a drain hole (10) belonging to both bathtubs.

3.- COATING FOR DETERIORATED USED BATHTUBS, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection between the drain holes (9 and 10) is materialized by joining a base or grid (12), using a central screw (14) that threads in a conventional lower part (13) of a sink (11) of the old bathtub (1).

4.- COVERING FOR USED BATTERIES DETE¬

RIORADAS, according to claim 2, characterized in that the connection between the drain holes (9 and 10) is materialized by joining a base or grid (12), using the screw (14) that threads into a rocker arm (15) that is it locks in the hole (10) of the old bathtub (1) when it lacks the part (13).

5.- COVERING FOR DETERIORATED USED BATHS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection means between the drain holes and the holes of the overflow of both bathtubs (1 and 2), consists have in an independent set that fits in correspondence with a cut (8) of the old bathtub (1), being faced with the drain and overflow holes of the new bathtub (2).

6.- COVERING FOR USED BATTERIES DETE¬

RIORADAS, according to claims 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that a tube (11) is connected to the connection between the drain holes (9 and 10), which communicates said holes, being sealed in their areas of connection with the surfaces of the bathtubs (1 and 2).

7. COVERING FOR DETERIORATED USED BATHTUBS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the old bathtub (1) has a wide angular wing (3) that borders it perimeter, in order to adequately cover the edge of the new bathtub (2) , said angular wing (3) also presenting a certain inclination towards the interior of the bathtub in order to facilitate its drainage.

8.- COATING FOR DETERIORATED USED BATHTUBS, according to claim 1, characterized in that there are provided inserts (19) fixed to the initial mold (18), while creating volumes in said mold, from which a bathtub is obtained synthetic (2 '); all this in order to obtain a new bathtub of irregular configuration that has interior volumes affected by projections, which allow us to transform it into a whirlpool bath.

9.- COATING FOR DETERIORATED USED BATHTUBS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the new synthetic bath joins the old bathtub by means of an adhesive compound of rapid filling and drying.

10.- INSTALLATION PROCEDURE FOR COVERING DETERIORATED USED BATHTUBS, which, starting from an old bathtub (1) in which a synthetic bathtub from a mold (18) is inserted inside, is characterized in that it comprises: - a 1 ^§ stage of dimensional adaptation of the synthetic bathtub to the old bathtub;

- a 2 ^§ stage where a normal drying adhesive product is applied on the interior surface of the old bathtub, except for certain strategic areas;

- a 3i stage where a quick drying adhesive product is applied which will be applied on the strategic areas of the interior surface of the old bathtub mentioned in the second stage;

- a 4 ^§ stage where the synthetic bathtub is inserted and fits into the interior of the old bathtub, both baths joining solidly by means of the adhesive products that will come into contact with the outer surface of the new bathtub in order to join the old bathtub.