GB2244428A

GB2244428A - Shower installation

Info

Publication number: GB2244428A
Application number: GB9012378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Murray
Original assignee: DALEMAR Ltd
Current assignee: DALEMAR Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-02
Filing date: 1990-06-02
Publication date: 1991-12-04
Also published as: GB9012378D0

Abstract

A shower tray and installation particularly suitable for disabled persons in wheelchairs comprises a preformed shower tray 10 including a base 11 having an outlet aperture 12 for receiving a waste pipe 13. A peripheral wall 14 surrounds the base 11 and depends above the waste pipe 13 level, in use. The tray 10 may be recessed into a timber or concrete floor 16, 17, the upper edge of the wall 14 being made flush therewith. In the case of a timber floor 16, the shower tray 10 can be seated on and supported by joists 18a, 19a. In any case, a spacer support 20 is located between the lower peripheral edge of the tray 10 and the floor 16, 17. <IMAGE>

Description

Shower Installation This invention relates to a shower installation particular but not exclusively for a disabled person.

When a disabled person in a wheelchair takes a shower, the main hazard to overcome is transferring from floor level into the shower tray. Traditional shower trays are normally mounted on top of the floor surface by a free standing skirt housing the waste pipe, resulting in a 200mm (8") step which has to be negotiated. For patients with a severe disability e.g. arthritis or are wheelchair bound, this is just as difficult for them as climbing a flight of stairs. Shower trays specifically for the disabled are available with a ramped entrance, but the tray itself has walls which means that access is only available from one direction, resulting in difficulty for nurses or relatives manoeuvring wheelchairs when assisting. Furthermore an extension to the bathroom often has to be built to accommodate the ramp.

Ideally the floor surface should be completely flat with access all around and one way to provide this facility in a person's home is by building an extension at a cost of around 7000 to provide a shower room. This will normally have a quarry tiled floor with a fall, to allow water to run into a gully (grid) underneath the shower. This type of construction is not possible in a traditional house with timber floors, especially on the first floor where the bathroom is normally sited. A quarry tiled floor usually gives the bathroom a cold, utilitarian appearance which is often unacceptable to other members of the household and emphasises the patient's feeling of disability. Furthermore the quarry tiles can only be used on concrete floors which are very difficult to make completely waterproof.

According to the present invention there is provided a preformed shower tray including a base having an outlet aperture for receiving a waste pipe, and a peripheral wall which surrounds the base and which does not depend below the level of a waste pipe when fitted in use.

The shower tray of the invention can be recessed into a timber floor and be made flush therewith, thereby eliminating any-ramps and the need to extend the bathroom. In this position the waste pipe of the shower extends below the floor level and thus no free-standing skirt is required.

To fit the shower tray of the invention, a section of floor boards is removed and the shower tray seated directly onto the existing joists. Further joists may have to be added to support the shower tray.

Thus in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a shower installation comprising a shower tray as defined in the first aspect of the invention recessed into the floor and flush with the floor level, the shower tray being directly seated on, and supported by joists.

Preferably the shower tray is provided in combination with a grill which is supported above the outlet aperture of the base. In this way the wheelchair and anyone assisting in washing the disabled person will stand on the grill rather than in the water in the shower tray. Furthermore because the disabled person and helper are not standing in the shower tray, the water can drain more quickly.

Yet another advantage of this construction is that the load bearing capacity of the shower base is improved. That is, the weight of the wheelchair on the grill acts downwardly at the point of contact with the shower tray. Preferably the grill is seated at the periphery of the shower tray which is also preferably directly seated on the joists. The resulting weight bearing load therefore acts directly on the joists.

To prevent the grill scratching or otherwise damaging the shower tray, preferably means are provided adjacent the peripheral wall for supporting the grill. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grid is supported on an Lshaped bracket which extends around the inner surface of the peripheral base wall.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l - is a plan view of the invention positioned in a timber floor; Fig. 2 - is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 - is a cross-sectional view along the line B-B of Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 4 - is a cross-sectional view of the invention set in a concrete.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a square shower tray 10 which can be performed from a metal or a mouldable plastic such as fibre-glass. The base 11 of the shower tray slopes gently downwardly to a central aperture 12 through which flows waste-water into a waste-water pipe 13. A 1 to 21/2l high wall 14 extends upwardly at right angles from the periphery of the base to contain the waste water and an outermost box-like frame 15 extends around the peripheral wall 14 and slopes downwardly thereto at its upper surface 15a to provide for further containment of the waste-water.

As can be seen from the drawings, the shower tray 10 is recessed into the floor 16, 17 and lies flush therewith. The floor can be timber 16 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, or concrete 17 as shown in Fig. 4. To fit the shower tray in a timber floor, a section of the floor boards is firstly removed. The shower tray 10 is then seated directly onto both the existing joists 18 and additionally fitted joists 19 (Fig. 2 ). Since the base 11 slopes downwardly and is therefore raised at its periphery, a spacer support 20 such as timber, is provided on the underside (preferably all four sides) of the shower tray below the peripheral wall 14. The support 20 seats on peripheral joists 18a, l9a to keep the tray 10 level.It should be appreciated that the support can take a number of forms, and basically acts as supporting abutment between the underside of the shower tray 10 and the peripheral supporting joists 18a, 19a.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the joists 18 and/or 19 can have steel plates 21 bolted along their length for reinforcement (Figs. 2 and 3).

For wear and a water tight fit aluminium trim 22 (Fig. 2) is fitted between the outer edge of the shower tray frame 15 and the inner edges of the floor boards 16. Any remaining gaps are sealed with mastic.

To prevent the wheelchair (not shown) and any person assisting the disabled person from having to stand in the waste shower water, an aluminium grill or duck board 23 is provided above the water level. The grill 21 is supported by the bottom limb of an L-shaped frame 24 which seats against the upstanding peripheral wall 14 and the base 11. This frame 24 protects the shower tray 10 against damage by the grill 23.

A further benefit derived from using the grill, is that the weight bearing load of the shower tray is increased. The weight of the wheelchair on the grill 23 acts directly downwards through the L-shaped frame 24 (as point of contact) and directly onto the peripheral joists 18a, l9a therebelow.

This is in contrast to a free-standing shower tray where the load bears on the depending skirt, and at the point where the wheelchair is standing in the shower tray. Since the supports 20 seat directly on the peripheral joists 18a, 19a, the load bearing capacity of the shower tray is also increased (with or without the grill 23).

As has been shown, the shower tray can also be recessed into a concrete floor (Fig. 4) in which case the supports 20 would be seated on the surface of the floor.

The shower unit of the invention is complete without having to negotiate ramps, steps or any other obstacles. This encourages the patient to be more self sufficient and leaves assistants free for other duties. An existing bathroom can be adapted to include a shower tray at a fraction of the costs of extending the bathroom, and has more aesthetic appearance than the traditional shower tray. The invention can also be built into a timber floor and mitigates any problems of dampness.

Claims

1. A shower installation comprising a preformed shower tray including a base having an outlet aperture for receiving a waste pipe and an upstanding peripheral wall or lip which surrounds the base, the tray being recessed into a floor such that an upper edge of a peripheral wall lip is substantially flush therewith, and the outlet aperture is located below the floor level.

2. A shower installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the floor is wooden and the tray is seated on, and supported by joists.

3. A shower installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the floor is concrete and the tray is seated on, and supported by a recess within the floor.

4. A shower installation as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, there is provided a spacer support between the bottom surface of the tray and the floor.

5. A shower installation as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, there is provided a grill which is supported above the outlet aperture of the base of the tray.

6. A shower installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the grill is supported at the periphery of the shower tray.

7. A shower installation as claimed in claim 6, wherein, support means are provided adjacent the peripheral wall for supporting the grill.

8. A shower installation as claimed in claim 7, wherein, the support means is an L-shaped bracket which extends around the inner surface of the peripheral wall.

9. A preformed shower tray for use in shower installation as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A shower installation as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A shower tray as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.