Shower tray

Abstract

 A shower tray 10 in combination with a trap 13, the trap 13 comprising a sump 14 which is formed integrally with the shower tray 10, a shower water inlet 16 through which water from the tray 10 can enter the sump 14, a waste water outlet 19, and a partitioning element 22 preventing communication between the shower water inlet 16 and the waste water outlet 19 except at a level below both the inlet 16 and the outlet 19.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a shower tray and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a low level shower tray.

[0002] Special low level shower trays are produced enabling a handicapped or partially invalid person to take a shower while sitting in a wheelchair or on a showering chair. In the case of the shower tray requiring wheelchair access, a ramp may be provided enabling the wheelchair to be wheeled from floor level up to the raised level of the surface of the shower tray on which the wheelchair stands during showering. Such low level shower trays have a slightly raised edge to prevent spillage of water from the shower tray during showering. However, the low level nature of these shower trays makes it difficult to fit conventional waste water outlets and traps because of the limited space available.

[0003] According to the present invention, there is provided a shower tray in combination with a trap, the trap comprising a sump which is formed integrally with the shower tray, a shower water inlet through which water from the tray can enter the sump, a waste water outlet, and a partitioning element preventing communication between the shower water inlet and the waste water outlet except at a level below both the inlet and the outlet.

[0004] Preferably, the partitioning element is connected to the waste water outlet of the trap.

[0005] Preferably, the partitioning element is a 90° elbow connector.

[0006] The shower tray may further comprise means for directing water on the shower tray towards the sump.

[0007] Preferably, the trap has two outlet openings to which the waste water outlet can be selectively connected and a blanking member for closing off the opening to which the waste water outlet is not connected. In this case, the two outlet openings are on opposite sides, respectively, of the sump.

[0008] The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a low level shower tray having an integral trap,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the shower tray and trap shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a schematic side view taken along line A-A in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a schematic side view taken along line B-B in figure 2.

[0009] Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a low level shower tray 10 having a water collecting surface 11, a raised edge 12 which prevents water spillage, and a trap 13. The trap 13 has a sump 14 integrally formed as part of the shower tray 10, typically adjacent one short side thereof.

[0010] The water collecting surface 11 is inclined downwards in more than one direction to form a gully 15 which directs water on the surface 11 towards a shower water inlet 16 of the trap 13.

[0011] As can be seen in Figures 2 to 4, the trap 13 comprises the sump 14 integrally moulded with the tray 10, the shower water inlet 16, and two outlet openings 18. The bottom surface 14a of the sump 14 is substantially coplanar with the bottom edge 10a of the shower tray 10.

[0012] The two outlet openings 18 are formed, typically opposite each other, in side walls of the sump 14. A waste water outlet 19 is selectively connectable to either outlet opening 18, and a blanking plug 20 closes off the opening 18 not in use. A removable lid 21 covers the sump 14 sufficiently to prevent bars of soap or similar objects from entering the trap 13. A partitioning element 22, typically in the form of a 90° elbow pipe connector fixed to the waste water outlet 19, extends into the sump 14 to a position above the bottom of the sump 14 between the shower water inlet 16 and the waste water outlet 19. A discharge pipe 23 is fixed via connector 24 to the other end of the waste water outlet 19 to drain.

[0013] The lid 21 may be clipped in place, allowing for easy removal for cleaning purposes, and may incorporate means for straining exfoliation from the water entering the trap 13.

[0014] The trap 13 is typically located adjacent an inner surface of the raised edge 12.

[0015] The low level shower tray 10 may also include a fixed or removable ramp (not shown) to allow for wheelchair access.

[0016] The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the shower tray 10 may not necessarily be low level.

Claims

1. A shower tray (10) in combination with a trap (13), the trap comprising a sump (14) which is formed integrally with the shower tray, a shower water inlet (16) through which water from the tray can enter the sump, a waste water outlet (19), and a partitioning element (22) preventing communication between the shower water inlet and the waste water outlet except at a level below both the inlet and the outlet.

2. A shower tray as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the partitioning element (22) is connected to the waste water outlet (19) of the trap (13).

3. A shower tray as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the partitioning element (22) is a 90° elbow connector.

4. A shower tray according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means (15) for directing water on the shower tray towards the sump.

5. A shower tray according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the trap has two outlet openings (18) to which the waste water outlet can be selectively connected and a blanking member (20) for closing off the opening to which the waste water outlet is not connected.

6. A shower tray as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the two outlet openings (18) are on opposite sides, respectively, of the sump (14).

Drawing