WO2004041046A1

WO2004041046A1 - Shower wall and method in a shower space

Info

Publication number: WO2004041046A1
Application number: PCT/FI2003/000831
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tapio Kordelin
Original assignee: Oy Shippax Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-07
Filing date: 2003-11-06
Publication date: 2004-05-21
Also published as: AU2003276299A1; FI20022000A0; FI20022000A

Abstract

The invention comprises a shower wall (10) and a method for drying the floor (40) of a shower space (33). The shower wall (10) is hinged at its one edge (24) to pivot in relation to the floor (40), and a drying paddle (22) is fastened at its bottom edge (21). A door means (54) is arranged in the pivoting framework (20) of the shower wall (10) allowing passage into and out from the shower space (33). The floor (40) of the shower space is dried by pivoting the shower wall (10) supported on its hinges (12).

Description

SHOWER WALL AND METHOD IN A SHOWER SPACE

TECHNICAL FIELD RELATED TO THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a shower wall and a method in a shower space according to the preambles of the independent claims presented below. The invention relates particularly to a new way to prevent water from escaping from the shower space limited by the shower wall and to a new way to dry the floor of the shower space.

PRIOR ART

A major problem of known shower spaces is the water escaping from the shower space. The water escaping from the shower space will wet the surrounding in an unpleasant way. If the water can splash or flow into spaces, which are not designed as wet spaces, there is a danger of moisture damages, for instance moulding structures. In order to prevent water from escaping from the shower space it is known to confine the shower space for instance with a shower curtain or a shower wall. A problem with these solutions is that the curtains and walls will easily permit water to pass through or besides them. Of course it is possible to confine a shower space in a watertight manner. The shower can be arranged for instance in a shower cabin entirely separated from the rest of the room.

It is often necessary to locate the shower in a space, in which a user does not find enough space for washing. If for instance a shower cabin or a shower space limited by shower curtains feels too close, the user might leave open the door of the shower cabin or the shower curtain. Then the water can escape from the shower space. This is a problem particularly in hotels, ships and corresponding spaces where the bath rooms must be designed as small as possible due to economical reasons. In such places the user is hardly responsible for the reparation of water damages, which reduces the willingness to avoid water damages.

A number of solutions have been invented for drying the floor of a shower space or outside it, such as underfloor heating and different mops and drying paddles. The known dryers function slowly, or they are inconvenient to use, so that the drying is often left undone.

A shower cabin is known from the publication WO 00/27266 having two fixed shower cabin parts within each other. These parts are hinged to each other so that the inner part is partly drawn out from the outer part during showering, whereby the size of the shower cabin is larger during showering than in the standby state. However, the solution requires a separate shower cabin, so that it requires unnecessary much space in bathrooms where the floor and the walls are already dampproof. The publications DE 8421309 Ul, GB 2056519 A, GB 2063952 A and EP 0860135 A2 present different movable shower walls, and for instance DE 3831521 Al presents a foldable door solution in a shower cabin. However, the known publications do not enable a spacious washing in the shower while preventing water from escaping from the shower space. None of the known publications present any solution for drying in an easy way the floor, not even the floor of the shower space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to reduce or even to eliminate the problems found in the prior art described above.

An object of the present invention is particularly to provide a shower wall, which can be mounted in rooms, which already as such are dampproof. At the same time the invention prevents water from flowing out from the shower space, enables a more spacious washing than previously, and enables an easy drying of at least a part of the floor after showering.

In order to realise for instance the objects mentioned above the shower wall and method according to the invention are characterised by what is presented in the characterising parts of the enclosed independent claims.

The embodiment examples and advantages mentioned in this text are in suitable parts applicable to both a shower wall and a method according to the invention, even if this is not always particularly mentioned.

A typical advantageous shower wall according to the invention is usually approximately rectangular in form. Of course it can also have another form. The side edges of the shower wall are typically at least almost vertical, and the bottom and top edges are at least almost horizontal. The framework of a typical shower wall comprises at least vertical wall edges, and generally also top and bottom edges. The middle part of the shower wall, i.e. the part between the edges, is advantageously arranged to be completely impermeable to water. A typical shower wall according to the invention comprises a framework and hinge members fastened to a first edge of the framework. Thus a shower wall according to the invention can be hinged for instance to the wall of a bathroom. Of course it can be fastened for instance to a stationary shower wall or to some other suitable object. Thus the shower wall suspended by the hinge members can pivot in relation to the stationary walls and floor of the shower space. In this context a shower space means that space intended for washing, which is limited by shower walls or other means, so that the water should not wet other spaces. A floor drying member is fastened to the bottom edge of a typical shower wall according to the invention. When the shower wall suspended on its hinge members pivots, the drying member will then also move in relation to the floor of the shower space. A particularly advantageous drying member according to the invention is a paddle arranged to sweep the floor. A paddle known as such intended for the drying of floors can be used as the paddle mentioned above.

In a typical method according to the invention the wet floor of the shower space is dried by moving the shower wall in relation to the floor of the shower space. A shower wall of this kind comprises typically a drying member fastened at its bottom edge, such as a paddle intended for drying a floor.

The greatest advantage of the invention is that the shower space requires less space when not in use than when in use. This makes it possible to have a spacious washing space also in close bathrooms.

A second most important advantage of the invention is that the drying of the floor will be made automatically while the shower wall is moved. In this way also a lazy user will dry the floor without noticing it. A separate floor drying paddle is not needed anymore in the bathroom.

Still a most important advantage of the invention is that the result of the floor drying is always of a uniform quality and that it is easy to arrange it to be good. Further, a paddle made for instance of an elastic material will not damage the floor when it is moved.

Still a most important advantage of the invention is that the gap between the bottom edge of the shower wall and the floor is easily made watertight with the aid of a drying member according to the invention.

In a typical shower wall according to the invention a door means is arranged in its framework, i.e. between the edges of the shower wall, through which door means there is a passage in and out from the shower space. This way it is possible to pass trough the door means even without moving the framework of the shower wall in relation to the floor of the shower space. The framework can have for instance a separate hinged door, or rail means in which a sliding door or a shower curtain is arranged. Space is saved when the passage to the shower is arranged in this manner through the shower wall. At the same time this facilitates the utilisation of the invention in such spaces, where due to the close space it is not possible to pivot the shower wall so much that it would be possible to pass between the shower wall and the adjacent stationary wall. The sliding door or other door means arranged in the framework of the shower wall is easily made watertight. The drying member according to the invention can be fastened directly to the bottom edge of the door means, particularly if the framework of the shower wall does not comprise a doorframe against the bottom edge of the door means.

In one embodiment of the invention the drying member is fastened to the bottom edge of the shower wall so that the paddle can move vertically in its fastening members. The paddle can be firmly fastened to the shower wall for instance only at the central point of the paddle. The paddle can move vertically in its recess if a paddle of this type is placed otherwise loosely, for instance in a recess formed in the bottom edge of the shower wall. A paddle of this type will follow the inclination and any unevenness of the floor and provide a good drying result.

In one embodiment of the invention the drying member is arched in its horizontal cross section so that it is concave towards the shower space. When the shower wall is pivoted toward the shower space the water will then be effectively moved in front of the drying member.

In one embodiment of the invention the hinge members are arranged so that they enable a vertical movement of the shower wall during the use of the shower wall.

Then the whole shower wall follows the inclination and any unevenness of the floor. At the same time the drying member retains continuously a suitable distance to the floor. Very advantageously the hinge members enabling the vertical movement of the shower wall also result in that the weight of the shower wall is at least partly, possibly mainly or even entirely, directed at the floor via a drying member according to the invention. The drying result is improved as the weight of the shower wall is directed at the drying member. At the same time the static friction between the floor and the shower wall can be adjusted to be suitable, so that the shower wall always stays in the desired position due to the action of this static friction. No locks, latches or other means are required to keep a pivoting shower wall like this in its place. In one shower wall according to the invention a sealing member is arranged between the wall of the shower space and the second vertical edge of the shower wall's framework, typically the non-hinged edge. This will effectively prevent water from passing out from the shower space through this gap.

Advantageously the sealing member comprises a flexible web, which is at least substantially as high as the shower wall and at least substantially watertight, and which is made for instance of some sturdy shower curtain fabric on the market. A web of this type is typically fastened at its first edge to the second edge of the shower wall framework and at its second edge to the wall of the shower space. A sealing member of this type makes it possible to open the shower wall as much as allowed by the other dimensions of the room, as long as the horizontal length of the web is also arranged to be suitable. When the second edge of the shower wall is at the fastening point between the sealing member and the wall of the shower space there is much extra loose material in the web. In order to collect this loose material in a controlled manner it is possible to locate reeling means at said fastening, whereby any extra loose material of the flexible web is automatically reeled into this reeling means, for instance due to a spring force.

One sealing member according to the invention and its fastenings to the wall of the shower space and to the framework of the shower wall is arranged to be so robust that they withstand reasonable pulling. Then the sealing member can be arranged to act as the limiter of the pivoting movement of the shower wall. Thus, the possible largest horizontal length of the sealing member determines the maximum distance between the second edge of the shower wall framework and the fastening point of the sealing member and the shower space's wall, in other words, this determines how much the shower wall can be opened. On the other hand, the length of the web and its fastening point to the wall can be dimensioned so that it is not possible to push the shower wall to become more closed than at a certain position. In this manner there can be left a safe space in the shower space, for instance for water taps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the enclosed schematic drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a shower wall according to the invention mounted in a bath room as seen from above, and Figure 2 shows a shower wall according to the invention mounted in a bath room in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures present two alike embodiments of the shower wall according to the invention. Corresponding parts have the same reference numerals. A movable shower wall 10 is arranged in the bathrooms of the figures. It is hinged by hinges 12 at its edge 11 to the wall 14, which is fastened to be stationary at the wall 16 of the bathroom. Suspended by its hinges the shower wall 10 can be moved between two extreme positions. The shower wall 10 is drawn by continuous lines in its outer operational position and by broken lines in the position 18, which requires the minimum space. The shower wall 10 has a framework 20 around its edges, for instance made of an aluminium profile, and a drying paddle 22 fastened to the bottom edge 21 of the framework 20. The position of the paddle is best visible in figure 2, but its position centrally at the bottom edge 21 of the framework is schematically shown also in figure 1. The shower wall is designed to be arched, so that in the position 18 a suitable space is left between the rear wall and the wall 14 for shower taps not shown in the figure. A suitably arched paddle 22 transports water as effectively as possible in front of it, and thus it optimises the drying result. The paddle 22 is fastened with fastening means 23 to the bottom edge 21 of the framework so that it is stationary only at its central portion. Other parts of the paddle 22 can move vertically in relation to the shower wall 10. Thus the paddle 22 follows as effectively as possible any unevenness in the floor. Of course it is possible to fasten the paddle 22 to the shower wall at more places, or over its entire length. The paddle 22 is advantageously some suitable elastic material, whereby it naturally follows the floor shapes at least to some degree. The fastening member 23 of the paddle can be some quick fastening known as such, whereby the paddle 22 can be replaced by a new one in an easy and effortless manner.

The pivoting shower wall 10 has an edge 24 remote from the hinge, and to this edge is fastened by a watertight joint the first edge 28 of a sealing web 26 made of a thick, watertight plastic fabric. The sealing web 26 is approximately as high as the shower wall 10. The second edge 30 of the web is fastened by a watertight joint to a vertical fillet 32. The fillet 32 is robustly fastened to the arched wall plate 34 of the shower space 33. The web 26 has a horizontal length, which is exactly so long that it stops the pivoting shower wall at the positions 10 and 18. The figures show how the shower wall in its outmost position 10 is partly in front of the door opening 36. The sealing web 26 prevents water from splashing out from the shower space, and thus also the water from passing out through the door opening 36, even if the door 38 would be open. The bottom edge of the sealing web 26 is arranged to extend down to the floor level 40 of the bathroom, so that even between the web 26 and the floor 40 the water cannot escape from the shower space 33. A watertight sealing fillet 42 extends around the bottom edge of the bathroom wall 16. A sealing web is not necessarily required in all shower walls 10 according to the invention. The sliding edge 24 of the shower wall itself can be arranged to have a sealing contact with the adjacent wall plate 34. The second edge 24 of the shower wall can for instance have an elastic seal, for instance of the same material as the paddle 22 drying the floor. Then also the wall 34 could be dried as the shower wall 10 according to the invention is moved.

For the sake of clarity the interior of the framework 20 forming the edges of the shower wall 10 is depicted as transparent. In the examples of the figures a door means 54 drawn by dotted lines in figure 1 is arranged in the framework 20, for instance a shower curtain or sliding doors, through which there is a passage to the shower space 33. Figure 1 shows also in dotted lines a rail 56, along which the shower curtain or sliding door is arranged to move. The structure of these door means is not shown in more detail here because their structure as such is not an object of the invention. The shower wall 10 does not require a door means of its own, if the shower wall 10 can pivot so far that the user can pass into the shower space 33 between the shower wall 10 and the adjacent wall 34.

Figure 1 shows also a toilet seat 44, a washbasin 46 and a tabletop 48. A floor drain 50 is located in the floor 40 of the shower space 33.

Figure 1 shows by dotted lines a possible washbasin 52 fastened to the pivoting shower wall 10. The washbasin 52 pivoting with the shower wall 10 is located at such a height from the floor that the washbasin 52 is located above the toilet seat 44 when the shower space 33 is in use, i.e. in the position shown in figure 1. The figure does not show the piping in the pivoting shower wall 10 required by such a washbasin. The washbasin 52 fastened to the shower wall 10 makes it possible to eliminate the table top 48 and the washbasin 46 shown in figure 1, and this makes it possible to construct an even more compact bath room. Adjacent the washbasin 52 there is room for a sufficiently large door means in the shower wall 10 allowing passage into the shower space 33. The hinges 12 are for instance of the lifting hinge type, so that the hinges 12 allow a vertical movement of the pivoting shower wall 10 according to the inclination of the floor 40. This ensures a contact between the drying paddle 22 and the floor 40, which contact is suitable regarding the drying result. This solution makes it also possible to adjust the friction between the drying paddle 22 and the floor so that the shower wall 10 is easy to move by hand, but at the same time the friction is so high that the shower wall 10 does not move on its hinges 12 by itself, or by a very small push.

The shower wall 10 of the figures is used as follows. The user first pivots the wall from the unused position 18 to the position 10. Then he or she enters the shower space 33 through the door means 54, for instance through sliding doors arranged in the framework 20. The user closes the door means 54 and washes him- or herself. Finally he or she leaves the shower space 33 through the door means 54. Now the floor 40 of the shower space 33 is wet. As the user pushes the shower door 10 toward its position 18, where it occupies a minimum space, the paddle 22 at the bottom edge 21 of the shower wall will sweep the floor and dry it. Due to the structure of the hinges 12 and the fastening 23 of the paddle 22 the paddle 22 will follow the floor 40 with an approximately constant force at every point of the floor, thus guaranteeing an optimal drying result.

The figures show only advantageous embodiment examples of the invention. To a person skilled in the art it is obvious that the invention is not restricted only to the examples presented above, but that the invention can vary within the scope of the claims presented below. The dependent claims present some possible embodiments of the invention, and as such they should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A shower wall (10), which prevents water from escaping from a shower space (33), whereby the shower wall (10) comprises

- a framework (20), which has mainly vertical first (11) and second edges (24), - hinge members (12), which are fastened to the first edge (11) of the shower wall framework, which framework (20) of the shower wall suspended on said hinge members (12) can be arranged to pivot in relation to the shower space (33), characterised in that the shower wall further comprises

- a door means (54) arranged in pivoting framework (20) of the shower wall (10), through which door means there is a passage into and out from the shower space

(33), and

- a floor drying member (22) fastened to the bottom edge (21) of the shower wall, which drying member is arranged to dry the floor (40) of the shower space as the shower wall (10) is moved suspended on the hinge members (12).

2. A shower wall (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the drying member is a paddle (22) arranged to sweep the floor (40).

3. A shower wall (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the fastening members (23) fastening the paddle (22) to the bottom edge (21) of the shower wall allow a vertical movement of the paddle (22) in relation to the framework (20) of the shower wall along at least almost the entire length of the paddle (22).

4. A shower wall (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the drying member (22) is arched in its horizontal cross section so that it is concave towards to shower space (33).

5. A shower wall (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the hinge members (12) are arranged so that they enable a vertical movement of the shower wall (10) during the use of the shower wall (10).

6. A shower wall (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that a substantial part, advantageously the main part of the weight of the shower wall (10) is directed at the floor (40) via the drying member (22).

7. A shower wall (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the framework (20) has rail means (56), in which the door means (54) is arranged to move.

8. A shower wall according to claim 7, characterised in that the door means (54) comprises a sliding door arrangement.

9. A shower wall (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises - a sealing member (26) to prevent water from passing between the second edge (24) of the shower wall (10) and the wall (34) of the shower space.

10. A shower wall (10) according to claim 9, characterised in that the sealing member comprises a flexible web (26), which is at least substantially watertight, and which - is fastened at its mainly vertical first edge (28) to the second edge (24) of the shower wall (10), and

- is fastened at its mainly vertical second edge (30) to the wall (34) of the shower space.

11. A shower wall (10) according to claim 10, characterised in that there are reeling means at the fastening position (32) between the second edge (30) of the sealing member (26) and the wall (34) of the shower space for reeling the respective extra flexible web (26) into storage.

12. A shower wall (10) according to claim 9, characterised in that the sealing member (26) and its fastening at the wall (34) of the shower space and at the framework (20) of the shower wall are arranged to be so strong that the sealing member (26) acts as a means limiting the pivoting motion of the shower wall (10), whereby the maximum horizontal length of the sealing member (26) determines the maximum distance of the second edge (24) of the framework of the shower wall (10) and the fastening point (32) between the sealing member (26) and the wall (34) of the shower space.

13. A method in a shower space (33) having a shower wall (10) for preventing water from escaping from the shower space (33), in which method

- one leaves the shower space (33),

- one dries the floor (40) of the shower space, characterised in that

- one leaves the shower space (33) by opening the door means (54) arranged in the shower wall and by passing through it out from the shower space (33) without moving the shower wall (10) in relation to the floor (49) of the shower space, - one dries the drying of the floor (40) by moving the shower wall (10) in relation to the floor (40) of the shower space.

14. A method according to claim 13, characterised in that the drying is made by moving a drying member (22) fastened at the bottom edge (21) of the shower wall in relation to the floor (40).