GB2197004A

GB2197004A - A dividing wall or partition for shower cubicles

Info

Publication number: GB2197004A
Application number: GB08721999A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rolf Stoessel
Original assignee: WERNAL D PILLATH GmbH
Current assignee: WERNAL D PILLATH GmbH
Priority date: 1986-09-26
Filing date: 1987-09-18
Publication date: 1988-05-11
Also published as: DE8625757U1; GB8721999D0

Abstract

A dividing wall or partition for shower cubicles comprising a plastics material plate (3) located in a bead-like plastics material clamping profile (2) defining a channel of generally U-shaped cross-section, the clamping profile (2) forming a clamping connection between the plate and a frame assembly formed from a plurality of metal profiles (1) the clamping profile (2) being retained in a channel (11) defined by the metal profile (1) wherein the plastics material from which the clamping profile is made is resilient, the side walls of the profile including portions (211, 212) which are freely resilient in a transverse direction said resilient portions engaging with the plastics material plate (3) and with the frame assembly (1) such that the plate (3) is clamped in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A dividing wall or partition for shower Cu- bicles The present invention relates to a dividing wall or partition primarily, but not exclusively intended for shower cubicles. Dividing walls or partitions are known in which a plastics material plate is located in a bead-like clamping profile of a substantially U-shaped cross-section formed from plastics material. The clamping profile forms a clamping connection between the plate and a frame assembly formed from metal profiles. The clamping profile engages in a suitably formed channel in the metal profiles forming the frame assembly.

In such a known arrangement, the plastics plate, forming the dividing wall or partition, is peripherally surrounded by a soft plastics material beading which has a substantially Ushaped cross-section. Lip flanges or the like are moulded to fit externally onto this plastics material profile. Metal profiles defining appropriate channels are then mounted on the plate surrounded by the plastics material heading so as to clamp the plate in position. The metal profiles are connected to one another, in their corner regions, by means of mitre joints to form a metal profile frame assembly.

In such a construction, it is initially necessary to mount the soft, striplike plastics material bead profile peripherally around the plate, subsequently, the metal profiles have to be mounted on the bead profiles and then joined together to form a frame.

The present invention seeks to provide an arrangement in which the clamping can be located in the frame assembly in a structurally simple manner, and in which the plate can then easily be inserted into the clamping profile. The invention also seeks to improve the clamping of the plate in the metal profile frame by means of the clamping profile.

According to the present invention, there is provided a dividing wall or partition for shower cubicles comprising a plastics material plate located in a bead-like plastics material clamping profile defining a channel of generally U-shaped cross-section, the clamping profile forming a clamping connection between the plate and a frame assembly formed from a plurality of metal profiles, the clamping profile being retained in a channel defined by the metal profile wherein the plastics material from which the clamping profile is made is resilient, the side walls of the profile including portions which are freely resilient in a transverse direction, said resilient portions engaging with the plastics material plate and with the frame assembly such that the plate is clamped in position.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side walls of the clamping profile are undulatory. The undulations form the regions which are freely resilient in the transverse direction. In such a case, it is desirable if the free end region of each side walls of the clamping profile include portions which extend parallel to one another, each said parallel portion being provided with an angular or rounded end portion, the end portions extending outwardly in a direction away from one another, whereby a further channel is defined by the end portion, the parallel portion and an undulation on each of the side walls, said further channel receiving an inwardly directed flange member provided on the metal profile.

Such a clamping profile can be inserted into the corresponding channel in the metal profile such that the base of the channel in the clamping profile lies adjacent the base of the channel in the metal profile, such insertion providing precise positioning. By appropriately dimensioning the undulators, the insertion of plastics material plate causes the undulations to be pressed outwardly thereby clamping the plate securely in the metal profile.

In a variation of the invention, the side walls of the clamping profile are simply curved inwardly.

One embodiment of the present invention will be further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a corner region of a dividing wall or partition for shower cubicles in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-B of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, there is shown a dividing wall or partition for a shower cubicle which is formed from a plastics material plate 3. The plate 3 is retained in position by a frame member formed from a plurality of metal profiles 1. These profiles 1 are preferably made of aluminium and, in the corner regions of the frame, are interconnected by means of connecting members 4 formed of a plastics material. The metal profiles 1 are provided with internally screw-threaded portions 14 to permit the insertion of correspondingly threaded fixing members thereby allowing the dividing wall or partition to be retained in position.

As will be readily apparent from Fig. 2, each metal profile 1 defines a channel 11, the free ends of the side walls of the channel 11 each being provided with an inwardly directed flange 12. A clamping profile 2 formed from hard polyvinyl chloride or from any other plastics material having similar properties, is inserted into the channel 11. The profile 2 also defines a channel and is inserted so that the base 22 thereof lies adjacent the base of the channel 11.

The side walls 21 of the clamping profile 2 are undulatory and have crests 211 directed towards the side walls of the profile 1 and crests 21 2 directed towards the centre of the channel 11. The base 22 of the profile 2 is inwardly curved, that is to say, the channel defined by the profile 2 has a convex base.

The free ends of the side walls 21 include portions 213 which extend parallel to one another. Each free end terminates in an angular or rounded portion 214 which communicates with its respective portions 213. These portions 214 are directed generally away from one another. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the angular or rounded portions 214 are visible externally and form a visible connection relative to the corner connector 4, which should, therefore, be made in the same colour. The portions 211, 213 and 214 together define a further channel 215 in which the flange 12 of the metal profile 1 is received.

The plastics material plate 3 is inserted into the clamping profile 2 which is, of course, located in the channel 11. The plate presses against the undulations 212 formed on the arms 21. In turn, the clamping profile 2 is supported on the internal wall 13 of the channel 1 by means of the undulations 211. Because the portions of the profile 2 are formed so as to be freely resilient in the transverse direction, the plate 3 is securely clamped in the clamping profile 2 and, in consequence, in the channel 11 of the metal profile 1.

It will be readily apparent that such a clamping profile permits the corner regions to be provided with corner connectors formed from plastics material. In addition, the angular or rounded portions 214 form an end line with such a corner connector.

Claims

1. A dividing wall or partition for shower cubicles comprising a plastics material plate 3 located in a bead-like plastics material clamping profile defining a channel of generally Ushaped cross-section, the clamping profile forming a clamping connection between the plate and a frame assembly formed from a plurality of metal profiles, the clamping profile being retained in a channel defined by the metal profile wherein the plastics material from which the clamping profile is made is resilient, the side walls of the profile including portions which are freely resilient in a transverse direction said resilient portions engaging with the plastics material plate and with the frame assembly such that the plate is clamped in position.

2. A dividing wall or partition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side walls of the clamp ing profile are inwardly curved towards the plastics material plate received therein.

3. A dividing wall or partition as claimed in claim 1, wherein each side wall of the clamping profile is undulatory.

4. A dividing wall or partition as claimed in claim 3 wherein the free end region of each side wall of the clamping profile include portions which extend parallel to one another, each said parallel portion being provided with an angular or rounded end portion, the end portions extending outwardly in a direction away from one another, whereby a further channel is defined by the end portion, the parallel portion and an undulation on each of the side walls, said further channel receiving an inwardly directed flange member provided on the metal profile.

5. A dividing wall or partition as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the channel defined in the clamping profile has a convex base.

6. A dividing wall or partition as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plastics material is a hard polyvinyl chloride.

7. A dividing wall or partition as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame is formed from aluminium.

8. A dividing wall or partition as claimed in claim 1 constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.