Kit consisting of a structure, a water resistant floor covering material and a finishing element

Abstract

 A structure (14) in combination with a water resistant floor covering material (not shown), the structure (14) comprising a finishing element (10) which is locatable between an end (12a) of the structure (14) and the upper surface of the floor covering material and which can be shaped to fit or substantially fit a curvature or contour (28) of the in use floor covering material.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a structure having a finishing element, the structure being in combination with a water resistant floor covering material.

[0002] Recently, the use of 'wet-floor' type floor coverings has grown in popularity. These typically make use of Altro ™, or some other type of stiff plastics material, that can be cold welded to provide a seamless and water-resistant floor covering.

[0003] This type of flooring is especially useful in bathrooms for the disabled, invalid or infirm who are largely unable to negotiate stepping into and out of a bath or shower tray. By having a water resistant floor covering laid in the bathroom, a shower chair or wheelchair can simply be placed beneath the shower head, and showering can commence without being overly concerned with splash or spray. To enable suitable draining, the water resistant floor covering is provided with a fall that acts to channel the run-off water to an integral drain formed in the flooring. To ease the creation of the fall, the floor covering is typically laid over a pre-moulded former having a predetermined fall.

[0004] In an attempt to confine most of the splash or spray to the area of the fall, a shower screen may be erected. This typically takes the form of one or more rigid panel structures fixed to extend from the floor and one or more walls of the bathroom. The shower screen may have a completely open access or may have a closeable access by which a shower cubicle can, essentially, be created.

[0005] A problem associated with the installation of a shower screen on a water resistant floor covering material is that, where the floor of the bathroom meets the walls, the edge of the material is curved or contoured to extend a suitable distance up the walls. This curvature or contouring, although necessary in order to prevent backed up run-off water, which is slow to drain and which is thus held on the water resistant floor covering, from causing damage to the wall(s) of the bathroom, causes problems when installing a structure, such as a shower screen, which is supported by both the floor and one or more of the associated walls and which is intended to fit up to the comer between the floor and wall(s).

[0006] This problem is accentuated as the curvature or contouring may vary depending on circumstance, the person laying the floor covering material, and the type of former being used.

[0007] The present invention seeks to overcome this problem.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure in combination with a water resistant floor covering material, the structure comprising a finishing element which is locatable between an end of the structure and the upper surface of the floor covering material and which can be shaped to fit or substantially fit a curvature or contour of the in use floor covering material.

[0009] Preferably, the finishing element comprises locating means for locating the end of the structure.

[0010] Preferably, the finishing element comprises engagement means for engaging the end of the structure. In this case, the engaging means may enable the finishing element to be press fit into wedging engagement with an end of the structure.

[0011] Preferably, wherein the finishing element can be manually shaped.

[0012] Preferably, the finishing element is formed with a cutting guide. In this case, the cutting guide may delineate a plurality of arcs.

[0013] Preferably, the said curvature or contour is at or adjacent to the edge of the floor covering material.

[0014] Preferably, the said curvature or contour extends through 90°.

[0015] Preferably, the finishing element is an end cap, and, preferably, the structure is an upright of a shower screen.

[0016] Preferably, the finishing element is formed of resilient rubber material, and, preferably, the water resistant floor covering material is Altro ™.

[0017] The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of one embodiment of a structure having a finishing element, in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] Referring to the drawing, a finishing element, being in this embodiment an end cap 10, is shown therein. The end cap 10 can be used for finishing the end 12a of an upright 12 of a shower screen structure 14, when the structure 14 is to be supported between an in use water resistant floor covering material (not shown), such as Altro ™, and one or more associated walls (not shown).

[0019] The end cap 10 is typically moulded from resilient rubber material and comprises a cross member part 16 and two side members 18 formed on ends of the cross member part 16. A transverse profile of the end cap 10 is thus 'H' or substantially 'H' shaped with an upper channel 20 and a lower channel 22 being defined. The upper channel 20 is adapted to act as locating means for locating the end 12a of the upright 12.

[0020] The end cap 10 may be dimensioned to, in use, extend to, or above, the edge of the curved or contoured water resistant floor covering material.

[0021] A cutting guide 24 is preferably formed into one or more outwardly facing surfaces 26 of the end cap 10. The cutting guide delineates a plurality of convex arcs 28 of differing radii. The outwardly facing edges 30 of the surfaces 26 can thus be shaped.

[0022] The end cap 10 may also comprise engagement means by which it can be held on the end of the upright 12. Typically, the engagement means is in the form of one or more bung elements 32 (only one shown in the drawing), formed upstanding from the cross member part 16 in the upper channel 20, and the upright 12 comprises one or more openings 34 (only one shown) in the end 12a which, in use, is intended to be positioned adjacent the floor covering material. The end cap 10 can thus be press fit into wedging engagement in this opening 34.

[0023] In use, once the floor covering material has been laid on the floor and its edges have been curved or contoured through 90° to extend the required distance up the wall(s), the side members 14 of the end cap 10 can be manually shaped with the aid of the cutting guide 24 so that the outwardly facing edges 30 fit or substantially fit the curvature or contour of the floor covering material at the corner between the floor and the respective wall.

[0024] The end cap 10 can then be attached to the upright 12 of the shower screen 14, via the engagement means, prior to the upright 12 being fixed in place.

[0025] It should be noted that, although an end cap is described above, any type of suitable finishing element could be used. Also, the embodiment is not limited to a shower screen as any suitable structure to be used in conjunction with a water resistant floor covering material may utilise the finishing element.

[0026] With the finishing element described above, a structure can be provided which closely follows the curvature or contouring of the in use floor covering material.

[0027] 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. For example, although the edges of the floor covering material are typically curved or contoured through 90°, and the curvature or contour typically follows an arc, the material may be contoured to fit other shapes and the finishing element may be contourable to fit these other shapes; the cutting guide 24 may also delineate shapes other than arcs.

Claims

1. A structure (14) in combination with a water resistant floor covering material, the structure comprising a finishing element (10) which is locatable between an end (12a) of the structure and the upper surface of the floor covering material and which can be shaped to fit or substantially fit a curvature or contour of the in use floor covering material.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the finishing element comprises locating means for locating the end of the structure.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the finishing element comprises engagement means (32) for engaging the end of the structure.

4. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engaging means (32) enables the finishing element to be press fit into wedging engagement with an end of the structure.

5. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finishing element (10) can be manually shaped.

6. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finishing element (10) is formed with a cutting guide (24).

7. A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cutting guide (24) delineates a plurality of arcs (28).

8. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said curvature or contour is at or adjacent to the edge of the floor covering material.

9. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said curvature or contour extends through 90°.

10. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finishing element (10) is an end cap.

11. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure is an upright (12) of a shower screen (14).

12. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finishing element (10) is formed of resilient rubber material.

13. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water resistant floor covering material is Altro ™.

Drawing