GB2184942A

GB2184942A - Leak resistant shower cabinet

Info

Publication number: GB2184942A
Application number: GB08700173A
Authority: GB
Inventors: F Hictson
Original assignee: Contour Doors Ltd
Current assignee: Contour Doors Ltd
Priority date: 1986-01-08
Filing date: 1987-01-06
Publication date: 1987-07-08
Also published as: GB2184942B; GB8600358D0; GB8700173D0

Abstract

A shower cabinet comprising walls (4) made preferably from a prefabricated metal framework and plastics or glass panels. The walls are positioned on the walls of a shower basin (5) and the lower ends of the walls of the cabinet and the upper sections of the wall of the basin define a gutter (3) which is disposed outside the wall of the cabinet. The gutter communicates with the interior of the cabinet by a channel which extends either through or beneath the wall of the cabinet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shower Cabinet This invention relates to an improved shower cabinet and more particularyto a cabinet which is especially resistantto leaking.

Free standing shower cabinets comprisefour prefabricated wall sections resting on the vertical walls of a shower basin. A layer of mastic sealant is generally employed to seal any gaps between the walls ofthe cabinet and the basin. The prefabricated walls generally comprise a metal framework incorporating panels made of glass or plastics and as such this method of construction necessarily results in the presence of numerousjoins. Some cabinets utilise one or more walls of a room where the cabinet is to be located as thewallsforthe cabinet in which case fewer prefabri catedwalls may be required.

Some currentforms of shower cabinets reach a high standard of performance. Nevertheless cabinets utilis ing prefabricated walls often suffer from the defect in that water discharging under pressure from the spray unittendsto force its way through some of the joins and trickle down the external surfaces ofthe walls and collects on the floor of the room where the cabinet is located. This is not only an immediate nuisance but in addition ofthe cabinet is standing on wooden floorboards rotting of the boards and the joists beneath can take place eventually thus requiring costly repairs.The possibility of leaks occuring are increased also ifthe cabinet is positioned with respect to a shower basin which is not completely level or becomes unlevel due to movement of the floor on which the basin is located.

Afurtherdefect lies in the use of a mastic sealant which with aging tends to lose some of its flexibility and cracks begin to develop between the walls ofthe cabinet and the mastic layer which then ceases to remain leakproof. This invention is directed to preventing water escaping from a shower cabinet and also to enable a cabinetto befitted onto a shower basin which isunlevel.

Accordinglythis invention provides a shower cabinetcompnsing a cabinet wall located above the wail of a shower basin the lower end of the wall of the cabinet and the upper section ofthe wall of the basin defining a gutter disposed externally ofthewall ofthe cabinetthe gutter communicating with the interior of the cabinet by means of a channel extending through orunderthewall ofthe cabinet.

Thecabinetcomprises preferably prefabricated walls made of a metal framework including plastics or glass panels. Ifthe cabinet isfree-standing itwili comprisethreewallsandadoororotherform of opening. However fewer prefabricated walls may be required if exisitng walls ofthe room in which the cabinet is situated are incorporated with the cabinet.

The shower basin can be made of any conventional materials used for the fabrication of bathroom equipment, e.g. plastics, ceramics and metal such as stainless steel. The walls of the basin are shaped preferably to enable them to cooperate with the wall of the cabinet in theformation of the gutter. However if necessarythey can be modified by the addition of gutterforming members. Differentformsofchannels can be employed to enablewatercollecting in the gutterto drain back into the cabinet. For example the walls ofthe cabinet can be placed upon spacing blocks resting on the floor of the gutter. Alternatively grooves or holes can be formed into the end ofthe walls of the cabinet. The wall ofthe basin can also be provided with grooves.In general any means permitting drainageofthegutterintothecabinetcan be employed.

This invention is illustrated but not restricted by the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view taken in vertical section of a part of a shower cabinet made according to the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are similarviews of partof an alternative form of the shower cabinet.

In Figure 1 a lower horizontal member (1 ) of wall ora cabinet rests on blocks or spaces (2). These in turn rest on a gutter member (3) which conveniently can be made ofaluminium or synthetic plastics for example polyvinly chloride or polythene. The gutter member is preferably L shaped and when positioned correctly one arm extends upwards and is spaced " or more from the external surface ofwall (4). The gutter member is bedded onto the vertical walls (5) of the shower basin with a layer of mastic sealant (6).

In use, the inner surface (7) ofthe walls ofthe cabinet may be subjected to streams of water under pressure. If any leaking occurswaterwill flow down the outer surface (4) ofthewall into gutter (3), past and between spacing blocks (2) back into the shower basin. It will be seen from the arrangement described above that even if the layer of mastic (6) becomes cracked or for any other reason ceases to provide a leakproof barrier water flowing down the walls cannot leak from the cabinet between gutter member (3) and the top ofthe shower basin.

Whilstthe above construction is preferred alternative constructions fall within the scope ofthe invention. Thus Figure 2 illustrates an arrangement wherein the vertical wall (5) of a shower basin incorporates an extension (7) which corresponds to the upward extending arm ofthegutter (3) shown in Figure 1.

Water trickling down the outersurface (4) of the cabinet wall passes down between the wall and extension (7) of the shower basin (5) past spacing blocks (2) into the main partofthe basin.

In Figure3 a wall (1) of a shower cabinet rests on a shelf (2) which forms part of an uprightwall (3) of a shower basin (5). Shelf (2) is inclined downwards at an angleofabout5 with respecttowall (3) and terminates in a lip (4) which conveniently has a length ofabout0.Scmswhichisaboutonehalfofthe height ofthewall section (3) is above the shelf(2). Wall (1 ) of thecabinetisprovidedwithachannel (6). In usewater leaking through wall (1 )flows downthewall and collects in the gutter between the lower end of the wall and the upper part (3) ofthe wall ofthe basin. The waterthen drains back into the interior ofthe cabinet through channel (6).

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Ashowercabinetcomprising a cabinet wall located above the wall of a shower basin, the lower end ofthewall ofthecabinetandthe upperend section ofthewall ofthe basin defining a gutter disposed externallyofthewall ofthecabinetthe gutter communicating with the interior ofthe cabinet by means of a channel extending through or underthe wall ofthe cabinet.

2. A shower cabinet according to Claim 1 wherein the wall ofthe cabinet is supported by a shelf forming part ofthe wall ofthe shower basin.

3. AshowercabinetaccordingtoClaim 1 wherein the gutter communicates with the interior of the cabinet by means of a channel formed by spacing members located between the wall ofthe cabinet and the shower basin.

4. A shower cabinet according to any one ofthe previous claims wherein the wall ofthe cabinet comprises a prefabricated metal framework incorporating a panel made of plastics or glass.

5. Shower cabinets as herein before claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims.

6. Shower cabinets as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the drawings.