WO2015015257A1

WO2015015257A1 - Disappearing shower box with integrated washbasin

Info

Publication number: WO2015015257A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/001285
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ercole CONTI
Original assignee: Conti Ercole
Priority date: 2013-07-31
Filing date: 2014-07-02
Publication date: 2015-02-05
Also published as: ITAN20130065U1

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a hideaway shower box (1), the box- shaped body (1.1) whereof integrates three functional elements, capable of taking different operating configurations chosen by the user. Said shower box (1) comprises: - a shower tray (4) fixed to said box-shaped structure (1.1) and rotatable on its own horizontal axis from an operating open position to a resting closed position, - a washbasin (5) fixed to said box-shaped structure (1.1) and rotatable on its own horizontal axis from an operating open position to a resting closed position, - a closing door (7) fixed to said box-shaped structure (1.1), having a plurality of panels (7.3) adapted to take alternative positions from a resting closed one to an operating closed one.

Description

DISAPPEARING SHOWER BOX WITH INTEGRATED WASHBASIN

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a hideaway shower enclosure, comprising further means, also hideaway, for an improved effectiveness and convenience of use.

The invention therefore falls within the field of bathroom furnishings, specifically in that of shower enclosures adapted to be installed in small rooms. Some solutions are already known in that market segment, which allow a shower enclosure to take an operating open position and a resting closed position, in this latter case providing the user with more space available to carry out further activities or simply for an increased mobility within the bathroom environment. Such type of results are particularly requested in home buildings having small sized bathrooms: we may consider, for example, holiday homes or boats, caravans and motor homes, typically provided with small bathrooms wherein the possibility to occupy the space only when the use of the shower is actually needed represents a considerable improvement compared to the past.

The prior documents US 5315721 and EP 1374750 both describe a shower enclosure provided with a wall mounted foldable shower tray and folding curtains delimiting the vertical space circumscribed by such enclosure.

However, such patents do not envisage satisfactory devices to avoid the spillage of water from the shower enclosure, nor they describe suitable solutions for a safe downflow of water towards the drain. Moreover, both the embodiments shown in these prior documents consist of complex structures and with a high construction cost, difficult to integrate in an existing bathroom without having to carry out additional works of refurbishment or structural adjustment of the intended environment.

The main object of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks described above by providing a hideaway shower enclosure with means integrated in a single structure and carrying out additional functions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shower enclosure suitable for being installed in the existing bathroom environments and adjustable to multiple home situations.

These and other objects, which shall appear clearly hereinafter, are achieved with a shower enclosure (hereinafter referred to as "shower box") according to claim 1.

Further advantages may be obtained with the additional features of the dependent claims.

Further features of the present invention shall be better highlighted by the following description of a preferred embodiment, in accordance with the patent claims and illustrated in the annexed drawing tables. Such figures should be considered as having an illustrative and non-limiting purpose, wherein:

- Fig. 1 shows an isometric perspective view of the shower box in a closed position, according to the invention;

- Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the rear components of the shower box according to the invention;

- Fig. 3 shows a front view of the shower box in a partially closed position, without the closing panels;

- Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the shower box according to the invention, according to a first method of use;

- Fig. 5 shows a side view of what shown in Fig. 5;

- Fig. 6 shows a side section view detail of the shower tray and of the relative draining system of the shower box according to the invention;

- Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a rear component of the shower box according to the invention;

- Fig. 8 shows what shown in Fig. 7 according to a side view;

- Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the shower box according to a second method of use;

- Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the shower box according to the invention, according to a third method of use;

- Fig. 11 shows a side view of what shown in Fig. 10;

- Figs. 12. A to 12.C show a plan view of the operating steps of the closing door of the shower box according to the invention.

The features of the finding shall now be described using the reference numerals contained in the figures and with particular relevance to the variants represented therein.

It should be noted that any term relative to spatial or dimensional references, such as "upper'V'lower", "vertical"/"horizontal" or the like, used hereinafter, refer to the position in which the elements appear in the figures, without any limiting intent, unless otherwise specified.

Reference numeral 1 shows the shower box as a whole, comprising a single box- shaped structure 1.1, having limited depth and installable on the intended wall M of the bathroom.

Said box-shaped structure comprises at least the following components:

- a lower support 2, adapted to seat and support the shower tray 4,

- an upper fitted wall 3, comprising some hydraulic elements of the shower (shower head 9, mixer unit, shower rail 9.1) and, preferably, one or more wall units 3.1,

- a far end wall 6, whereon said lower support 2 and upper fitted wall 3 are fixed,

- a door 7 for closing the shower box 1, comprising a plurality of panels 7.3 capable of folding compactly. According to the present invention, the lower support 2 is further adapted to support a washbasin 5, as well provided with its own peculiarities, which shall be described hereinafter.

It should be underlined that the inventive core of the present invention should be found in said lower support 2, adapted to support both the shower tray 4 and the washbasin 5; therefore the further elements of the shower box 1 are additional and non limiting features, starting from the box-shaped structure 1.1 and the upper fitted wall 3 which, in the marginal variant, may also be absent.

With reference to the above listed figures, it should be noted that the box-shaped structure 1.1 is provided with means for fixing and moving the movable parts of the shower box 1, that is, of the shower tray 4, of the washbasin 5 and of the door 7, which are all components capable of taking alternative positions chosen by the user and being included in - or moved next to - the structure of the shower box 1, when closed.

More precisely, pairs of hinge-supports 7.1 are located laterally on the external portion of the box-shaped structure 1.1, for constraining with respective pins 7.11 of the door 7: as shown in Fig. 2, at least a pair of such hinge-supports 7.1 is located substantially at the lower end of the lower support 2 and another couple located substantially at the upper end of the upper fitted wall 3.

The said lower support 2, at the inner side portion, comprises supporting means 4.1. and 5.1 for constraining with respective rotation pins 4.11 of the shower tray 4 and 5.11 of the washbasin 5.

More in detail, in the proximity of the lower portion of said lower support 2, there is a couple of holes 4.1 for the rotation pins 4.11 of the said shower tray 4; while, in the proximity of the upper portion of said lower support 2, there is positioned a couple of holes 5.1 for the rotation pins 5.11 of the said washbasin 5.

As it is clear from the figures from figs. 1, 4, 9 and 10, both said shower tray 4 and said washbasin 5 are capable of taking two alternative positions, by rotating about their own horizontal axis thanks to said rotary fixing means 4.1/4.11 and 5.1/5.11 :

- an operating open position, wherein the shower tray 4 and/or the washbasin 5 are arranged orthogonally to the box-shaped structure 1.1 of the shower box 1, through rotation at 90°, arranging substantially parallel to the floor P,

- a resting closed position, wherein the shower tray 4 and/or the washbasin 5 are arranged parallel to the box-shaped structure 1.1 of the shower box 1, incorporated inside the same.

Fig. 9 shows an operating configuration wherein both said shower tray 4 and washbasin 5 are in operating open position; it should be noted that the dimensional measures of the two elements (in particular the depth), are such that they can allow their simultaneous use: in fact, the washbasin 5, having a depth typically of about 40 cm, leaves the user enough space to use the underlying shower tray 4 (generally having a depth of 70 or 80 cm) as a support and walking surface.

In the operating configuration of Fig. 9, therefore, the user of the shower box 1 may simultaneously use both the washbasin 5 and the shower tray 4, the latter acting substantially as an element for collecting any water splashes escaping from said washbasin 5 or from a supporting surface for the user that does not want to stand, for hygienic reasons, on the bathroom floor P; but, above all, such configuration allows the user to close the panels 7.3 of the closing door 7 around himself (which, as specified hereinafter, are flush to the edges 4.4 of such shower tray 4), thus obtaining a closed space, without any risk of water spillage from the shower box 1.

In the event, instead, that the user needs a quick use of the washbasin 5 only, the shower tray 4 may be put in a resting closed position, as shown in figs. 10 and 11 : in this case, totally comparable to the common activity of use of a standard washbasin, the closure of the closing door 7 is not carried out, as, on the other hand, there is no need to create a closed space inside the shower box 1.

In both the configurations just described, the means for dispensing water for the washbasin 5 are the same used for the shower function, with the shower head 9 acting as a tap, suitably lowered on the shower rail 9.1 from the upper fitted wall 3 to put it close to said washbasin 5.

Suitable stop means (not shown in the figures) are associated to the rotary fixing means 5.1/5.11 are provided, adapted to allow the washbasin 5 to take alternatively the operating open position (by stopping its rotation at 90°, arranging substantially orthogonal to the lower support 2) and the resting closed position, positioning close and adjacent to the far end wall 6 of the box-shaped structure 1.1, occupying the plenum present between said lower support 2 and the upper fitted wall 3 (see figs. 3, 4 and 5).

Finally, said washbasin 5 is provided with known means 5.2 for water downflow and discharge which, in the non limiting example of the annexed figures, consists of a cross slit, obtained at the back of said washbasin 5.

Said draining means 5.2 make the water flow towards an underlying collection tank 2.1, through a gap acting as a conveyor, obtained between the back of the lower support 2 and a panelling 2.2, located below said washbasin 5 and substantially parallel to said back of the lower support 2.

Said collecting tank 2.1 (which is the same intended for the collection of the downflow water coming from said shower tray 4, as it will be explained hereinafter) is obtained in the base of the lower support 2 and is in fluid connection with the drain sump 8 of the bathroom floor P, wherefrom the water then flows in the sewage conduits through union 8.1.

Figs. 4 and 5 show an operating configuration of the shower box 1 wherein only the shower tray 4 is operating open position, whereas the washbasin 5 remains in the resting closed position.

As mentioned, said shower tray 4 is constrained to the lower support 2 through rotary means 4.1/4.11, allowing the alternative placement thereof between a resting closed position, adjacent and incorporated into said lower support 2, and an operating open position, substantially parallel to the floor P.

Suitable stop means (not shown in the figures) associated to said rotary fixing means 4.1/4.11 may be provided to ensure that the shower tray 4 remains in the resting closed position; similar stop means are instead not necessary to ensure that the operating open position is maintained, because the said shower tray 4 still finds support in the bathroom floor P.

Said shower tray 4 typically comprises an upper surface 4.3 defining the supporting zone the user stands on, having preferably a lying plan slightly declining towards the back, so as to facilitate the downflow of water towards the collection tank 2.1 described above.

The lower surface of said shower tray 4 comprises a series of stiffening cross ribs 4.2 for resting on the floor P, adapted to support the weight of the user.

Reference numeral 4.4 denotes the raised edges of the shower tray 4, which, besides delimiting the width of the entire shower box 1 , also act as a supporting elements for the panels 7.3 making up the closing door 7, the lower ends thereof are provided with standard silicon rubber seals for a shape coupling with said edges 4.4.

As per prior art, said closing door 7 consists of a plurality of foldable panels 7.3 hinged to each other with hinge joints 7.2, while those closer to the box-shaped structure 1.1 are constrained thereto through the hinge-supports 7.1 and pins 7.11 already described.

Figs 12. A to 12.D show an exemplifying sequence of the movements carried out from the panels 7.3 of such door 7, respectively from a closed operating position (Fig. 12.A) to a closed resting position (Fig. 12.D).

Such panels 7.3, when fully deployed on the edges 4.4 of the shower tray 4, allow the user to obtain the complete closing of the shower box 1, achieving a fully closed, leak-proof space.

By sequential opening operations, each panel 7.3 overlaps the contiguous panel 7.3, through said hinge joints 7.2, up to obtaining a first pack of panels 7.3 which, after positioning the shower tray 4 and the wasnbasin 5 in a closed position, may be placed to close the front of the box-shaped structure 1.1 of the shower box 1 (see Fig. 1). The panels 7.3, as per prior art, may be provided with suitable joint-wise closing systems, by magnetic elements or similar means.

It is noted that the closing door 7 and the closing/opening steps of the panels 7.3 shown in the annexed figures are only a non-limiting example of their configuration and operation, being also possible to be made with different methods, for example with a different number of panels 7.3 or with a different closing/opening system (for example, bellow o sliding) or with different hinging systems.

From the above-mentioned description, the advantages achievable with the shower box 1, object of the invention, appear clearly, the main one can be found in the possibility of achieving a massive space saving in the bathroom when such shower box 1 is fully closed.

Compared to the solutions of the prior art, the fact that said shower box 1 incorporates also a washbasin 5, usable just as a common washbasin, even allows to avoid the presence of such bathroom fitting in the bathroom, achieving an even more enhanced space optimization, a requirement particularly valued in homes with small-sized bathrooms.

Another order of advantages of the shower box 1 lies in its improved means for the collection and downflow of the drain water, both the one used for the washbasin 5 and coming from the shower tray 4, both flowing into a common collection tank 2.1, in fluid communication with the underlying drain sump 8. The shower box 1 described is also easily installable in the intended environment, because its box-shaped structure 1.1 may be fixed to the wall M or embedded therein, without the need of having to proceed with particular architectural adjustments, if not those commonly required for making a standard shower.

Said shower box 1 , may also be arranged both on a free wall (as shown in the annexed figures) and angle-wise, by making the due constructive variations, which may be implemented by any man skilled in the art, according to the inventive solutions herein described. It is clear that several variants of the shower box 1 are possible to the man skilled in the art, without departing from the novelty scopes of the inventive idea, as well as it is clear that in the practical embodiment of the invention the various components described above may be replaced with technically equivalent ones.

For example, the annexed figures show the shower box 1 comprising a single box-shaped structure 1.1 incorporating all the function? 1 components of the invention: however, as said, the minimum inventive core may limit to the presence of only the lower support 2, adapted to seat and support both the shower plate 4 and the washbasin 5.

Such variant is particularly suitable for being installed in a bathroom already provided with wall mounted hydraulic elements, without the same having to be mandatorily associated with an upper fitted wall 3, the presence thereof is thus not essential, as well as it is not mandatory the presence of the closing door 7 (replaceable, for example, by a standard curtain).

With reference to such upper fitted wall 3, the annexed figures show a variant comprising wall units 3.1, wherein recesses and container drawers 3.2 and mirrors 3.3 are obtained (the latter being also capable of moving slidingly or flap-wise): however a marginal variant of the invention may also be free from such elements, being it sufficient that the upper fitted wall 3 acts as a support for the hydraulic elements for water dispensing (shower head 9, mixer unit, shower rail 9.1) and is laterally provided with hinge-supports 7.1 for the closing door 7. Known kinematic mechanisms may also be provided (mechanically or electronically operated) for the rotation of the shower tray 4 and washbasin 5 from the resting closed position to the operating open one and vice versa, as an alternative to a manual operation.

Claims

Hideaway shower box (1) comprising:

- a lower support (2),

- a shower tray (4) fixed to said lower support (2) and capable of taking two alternative positions through rotation on its own horizontal axis:

- an operating open position, orthogonal to said lower support (2), and

- a resting closed position, parallel to said lower support (2) and incorporated inside the same,

characterised in that

it further comprises a washbasin (5) fixed to said lower support (2) and capable of taking two alternative positions through rotation on its own horizontal axis:

- an operating open position, orthogonal to said lower support (2), and

- a resting closed position, parallel to said lower support (2) and incorporated inside it.

Shower box (1) according to the previous claim,

characterised in that

said lower support (2) is integrated in a box-shaped structure (1.1) installable on the target wall (M), said box-shaped structure (1.1) further comprising:

- an upper fitted wall (3) comprising the hydraulic elements (9, 9.1) of the shower,

- a far end wall (6) whereon said lower support (2) and upper fitted wall (3) are fixed,

said washbasin (5), when in resting closed position, positioning close and adjacent to said far end wall (6), in the space present between said lower support (2) and upper fitted wall (3). Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that

it further comprises a closing door (7) fixed to said box-shaped structure (1.1) and having a plurality of panels (7.3) flush with the edges (4.4) of said shower tray (4) and capable of taking alternative positions through sequential opening and closing movements, the ends of said positions going:

- from a resting closed position wherein said panels (7.3) are placed to close the front of said box-shaped structure (1.1),

- to an operating closed position wherein said panels (7.3) are completely deployed on said edges (4.4) of said shower tray (4), closing the operating space of said shower box (1).

Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that

the rotating movement on its own horizontal axis of said shower tray (4) takes place through rotary support means comprising rotation pins

(4.11) associated to holes (4.1) located in the proximity of the lower portion of said lower support (2).

Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that

the rotating movement on its own horizontal axis of said washbasin (5) takes place through rotary support means comprising rotation pins

(5.11) associated to holes (5.1) located in the proximity of the upper portion of said lower support (2).

Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that

the fixing of said panels (7.3) of said closing door (7) takes place through rotary support means comprising rotation pins (7.11) associated to hinge-supports (7.1) located in the proximity of the upper portion of said upper fitted wall (3) and of the lower portion of said lower support (2),

the fixing among contiguous panels (7.3) taking place through rotary support means comprising hinge joints (7.2).

Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that

a collection tank (2.1) is obtained in the base of said lower support (2), adapted to receive the drain or downflow water coming from both the shower tray (4) and said washbasin (5), said collecting tank (2.1) being in fluid connection with the drain sump (8).

Shower box (1) according to the previous claim,

characterised in that

said washbasin (5) comprises means for draining water towards the collection tank (2.1), comprising:

- an opening (5.2) at the back of said washbasin (5),

- a gap acting as a conveyor for the wate: draining from said opening (5.2) towards said collecting tank (2.1), said gap being obtained between the back of said lower support (2) and a panelling (2.2) located underneath said washbasin (5) and parallel to said back.

Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that

the lower surface of said shower tray (4) comprises a series of stiffening cross ribs (4.2) for resting to the floor (P) and for holding the weight of the user.

Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that

said upper fitted wall (3) comprises one or more wall units (3.1) having one or more drawers or recesses (3.2) and one or more mirrors (3.3). Shower box (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that said rotary support means (4.1, 4.11 ; 5.1, 5.11) are associated to stop means in order to keep the alternative resting closed and operating open positions of said shower tray (4) and washbasin (5).