Shower cubicle

Abstract

 A shower cubicle comprises a curved wall (1) having opposed elongate linear edges which in use are arranged substantially upright, and a support post (7) secured to each of the edges, each support post (7) having a lower end extending below the curved wall (1) and means for securing the post (7) to a chosen surface.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a shower cubicle which may be used, for example, on a beach or by a swimming pool or on a construction site. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a shower cubicle which is portable or semi-portable.

[0002] Present showers for such uses tend either to be a single shower head with no cubicle, or blocks of cubicles which are too large for many situations.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shower cubicle which can be readily installed and removed.

[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a shower cubicle comprising:

a curved wall having opposed elongate linear edges which in use are arranged substantially upright; and

a support post secured to each of the edges, each support post having a lower end extending below the curved wall and means for securing the post to a chosen surface.

[0005] The curved wall may be substantially U-shaped or may be substantially semi-cylindrical.

[0006] An upper and/or a lower edge of the wall may be rolled to form a generally tubular edge.

[0007] A bracing rail may be provided between upper end regions of the posts. A shower curtain may depend from the bracing rail.

[0008] The means for securing the posts may comprise an outwardly extending flange provided at the lower end of each post.

[0009] A further support may be secured to the wall intermediate the posts, the further support extending below the wall and being provided with means for securing the support to a chosen surface. The means for securing the further support may comprise an outwardly extending flange provided at the lower end of the support.

[0010] The support and the posts may be connected together by means of connecting members.

[0011] A shower tray may be secured to the lower edge region of the wall. A slatted deck may be supported over the tray, for example on an inwardly extending lip of the tray.

[0012] The lower edge of the wall may have an inwardly facing lip adapted to fit over an upstanding region on the shower tray.

[0013] A cover for the shower cubicle may be provided at the top of the wall. The cover may be opaque.

[0014] The shower cubicle may be provided with a shower head. The shower head may be in the form of a perforated pipe shaped to conform to the curvature of the wall. Control means may be provided for the supply of water to the shower head.

[0015] The shower cubicle may include wheels or castors to facilitate movement thereof.

[0016] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a shower cubicle according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating one manner in which the shower cubicle can be transported;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a shower cubicle according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of an arrangement of lower connecting member sections, posts and support shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a means of connecting together a shower tray and wall of a shower cubicle according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a portable shower cubicle which comprises a curved wall 1 that is sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting. The wall 1 may be generally semi-cylindrical or U-shaped, but need not be in the form of a continuous curve. That is, the wall has, in use, an upright axis and has opposed elongate linear edges which also are arranged substantially upright. The wall 1 may be made, for example, of glass reinforced plastics material (GRP) or polycarbonate material or of a suitable metal, such as aluminium. For added strength, safety and rigidity, the upper and/or lower edges 3, 5 of the wall may be rolled over to form a generally tubular edge.

[0018] An upright post 7, for example of suitable metal material such as aluminium, is secured to each elongate upright edge of the curved wall 1, for example by means of bolts 9 passing through the edge region of the wall 1 and secured to inserts provided in the post 7. The bolts 9 are provided along the length of each edge region of the wall in order to provide secure attachment of the wall to the post.

[0019] A bracing rail 11 optionally extends between the upper ends of the upright posts 7 and is secured thereto to provide a substantially rigid interconnection. The bracing rail 11 can serve as a rail for a shower curtain 13 if desired. As a further alternative an opening shower door can be provided between the posts 7 if desired.

[0020] The lower ends of the posts 7 extend beyond the wall 1 and are provided at the ends thereof with outwardly extending flanges 15. The flanges 15 are provided with holes for the passage of securing means (not shown) for securely mounting the shower cubicle on a chosen surface. A single short rear support 17 is secured to the wall 1 intermediate the posts 7 to provide support for the rear of the cubicle. The support 17 is provided with a flange 15 on the lower end thereof and with holes for the passage of securing means.

[0021] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, for added strength, safety and rigidity, the rear support 17 may extend to the full height of the posts 7. The upright posts 7 and support 17 are attached, for example by welding, to an upper arcuate connecting member 39 and a lower arcuate connecting member 41 thus forming a frame or cradle to which the wall of the cubicle is attached. The upper connecting member is attached to the tops of the posts 7 and support 17. As shown in Figure 4, the lower connecting member comprises two sections 41a, 41b attached to opposing sides of the support 17. Each lower connecting member section is attached to the nearest adjacent post 7.

[0022] The posts are secured to each elongate upright edge of the curved wall 1, for example by means of bolts 9 passing through the edge region of the wall 1 and secured to inserts provided in the post 7. The bolts 9 are provided along the length of each edge region of the wall in order to provide secure attachment of the wall to the post.

[0023] The support 17 may also be secured to the wall 1 intermediate the posts 7.

[0024] The lower ends of support 17 and posts 7 extend beyond the wall 1 and are provided at the ends thereof with outwardly extending flanges 15. The flanges 15 are provided with holes for the passage of securing means (not shown) for securely mounting the shower cubicle on a chosen surface with a flange 15 on the lower end thereof and with holes for the passage of securing means.

[0025] A shower tray 19 is provided which conforms to the curved shape of the wall 1. The tray 19 is sealed and fastened, for example by bolts (not shown) to the wall 1. The shower tray has a wall 21, a base 23 and an outlet 25 for waste water. An upper edge of the wall 21 supports a slatted deck 27 made of timber, metal or plastics, for example. To this end, the upper edge of the wall 21 may be formed with an inwardly extending lip 29. Thus, the slatted deck is supported at a level above the base 23 of the tray 19.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5 the lower edge of the cubicle wall 1 has an inwardly facing lip 43 which fits over an upstanding region 45 on the shower tray 19, thus forming a water tight seal between the tray and the cubicle. The distance to which the lip 43 extends over the upstanding region 45 can be altered by means of trimming the lip 43 on-site during manufacture.

[0027] If desired, the top of the shower cubicle may include a cover 31, for example of obscure polycarbonate or other plastics material. The cover 31 may be clipped or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the wall 1.

[0028] The shower cubicle may be provided with any suitable type of shower head and control therefor. For example, the shower head may be in the form of an arcuate pipe 33 secured to the inner face of the wall 1 so as to be spaced from the wall and extend around the curved face thereof, the pipe being provided with spaced water outlets. The shower control 35 may be provided with a self closing valve (not shown) which allows water to flow for a predetermined time after actuation, for example 25 seconds. Such a control is particularly useful where the shower might otherwise not be turned off and would lead to a wastage of water.

[0029] Although it is not shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3, the wall 1 may be provided on the outer face thereof with one or more of a bib tap for providing drinking water and a foot washing device.

[0030] Thus the portable shower cubicle according to the present invention requires only a suitable surface to be mounted on a provision of water and drainage.

[0031] When the shower cubicle is no longer required, or is needed at an alternative location, the water and drainage services are disconnected and the flanges 15 are released from the surface to which the cubicle is secured. Carrying handles 37, for example of wood, plastics or metal, are inserted into the ends of the posts 7 and the cubicle can readily be removed or transported to an alternative location.

[0032] Alternatively, the shower cubicle may be provided with wheels or castors to facilitate movement thereof.

[0033] Although the slatted deck 27 is described as being supported on an inwardly extending lip 29 on the tray wall, it should be appreciated that the slatted deck can also rest on the base 23 inside the shower tray 19 and the inwardly extending lip 29 would then not be required.

[0034] It should be appreciated that the shower cubicle can be used inside a building as well as outdoors. It should also be understood that the shower cubicle can be used with or without the shower tray depending on where the shower cubicle is sited.

Claims

1. A shower cubicle comprising:

a curved wall (1) having opposed elongate linear edges which in use are arranged substantially upright; and

a support post (7) secured to each of the edges, each support post (7) having a lower end extending below the curved wall (1) and means for securing the post (7) to a chosen surface.

2. A shower cubicle as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the curved wall (1) is substantially U-shaped or substantially semi-cylindrical.

3. A shower cubicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an upper and/or a lower edge (3, 5) of the wall (1) is rolled to form a generally tubular edge.

4. A shower cubicle as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a bracing rail (11) is provided between upper end regions of the posts(7), from which a shower curtain (13) may depend.

5. A shower cubicle as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the means for securing the posts (7) comprises an outwardly extending flange (15) provided at the lower end of each post (7).

6. A shower cubicle as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a further support (17) is secured to the wall (1) intermediate the posts (7).

7. A shower cubicle as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the further support (17) is provided with means, for example an outwardly extending flange (15) provided at the lower end of the support, for securing the support to a chosen surface.

8. A shower cubicle as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the support (17) and the posts (7) are connected together by means of connecting members (39, 41).

9. A shower cubicle as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a shower tray (19) is secured to a lower edge region of the wall (1).

10. A shower cubicle as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that a slatted deck (27) is supported over the tray (19), for example on an inwardly extending lip (29) of the tray (19).

11. A shower cubicle as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the lower edge of the wall (1) has an inwardly facing lip (43) adapted to fit over an upstanding region (45) on the shower tray (19).

12. A shower cubicle as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a cover (31), for example an opaque cover, is provided at the top of the wall (1).

13. A shower cubicle as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a shower head is provided, for example in the form of a perforated pipe (33) shaped to conform to the curvature of the wall (1).

14. A shower cubicle as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that control means (35) is provided for the supply of water to the shower head.

15. A shower cubicle as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that wheels or castors are included to facilitate movement thereof.

Drawing