A structural member (1) of a recessed supporting frame for bathroom fixtures is defined by a straight bar (2) having two weakened transverse portions (5) defining respective bend lines (6) along which the bar (2) can be bent by hand to form a U-shaped frame (13); each portion (5) has a succession of perforations (7) defined by respective slots (8) elongated longitudinally along the respective bend line (6).
The present invention relates to a structural member for a recessed supporting frame for bathroom fixtures, to a frame comprising such a structural member, and to the relative production method.
As is known, bathroom fixtures, particularly suspended types, can be installed by means of supporting frames recessed into the wall. In particular, frames are known which are formed by folding into a U a sheet metal section or bar, normally with a U-shaped cross section. The bending operations involved in forming such frames cannot be done by hand by the fitter, and must be performed on a special machine at the factory, thus increasing overall production cost and time. Moreover, the frames must be stored and transported in the finished as-fitted form, which is fairly bulky.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a structural member of a recessed supporting frame for bathroom fixtures, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.
According to the present invention, there is provided a structural member of a recessed supporting frame for bathroom fixtures, characterized by comprising a straight bar having at least one weakened transverse portion defining a corresponding bend line along which the bar can be bent by hand.
The invention also extends to a recessed supporting frame for bathroom fixtures, comprising such a structural member.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a method of producing a recessed supporting frame for bathroom fixtures, characterized by comprising the steps of forming a structural member in the form of a straight bar; forming at least one weakened transverse portion in said bar to define a corresponding bend line; and bending said bar along said bend line by hand.
The structural member according to the invention enables the supporting frame to be formed at the installation site from a straight bar, which is much easier to store and transport than a frame in the finished as-fitted form.
No mechanical bending operations using special machines or tools are involved; the bar can be bent into the frame at the installation site by the fitter; and overall production cost and time are reduced, as well as storage and transport costs, by storing and transporting substantially straight, relatively compact members.
A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a structural member of a recessed supporting frame for suspended bathroom fixtures. Structural member 1 comprises a straight bar 2 preferably made of metal material. More specifically, bar 2 is a box bar having a U-shaped cross section and extending along an axis A, is made in known manner, e.g. by blanking and bending a strip or sheet of sheet metal of roughly 0.5-2 mm, and preferably about 1-1.5 mm, thickness, and comprises a flat, rectangular base plate 3, the centreline axis of which is defined by axis A, and two longitudinal sides 4 bent 90° with respect to base plate 3.
Bar 2 has two weakened transverse portions 5, which define respective bend lines 6 extending across base plate 3, between sides 4, and perpendicular to axis A.
As shown in the Figure 2 detail, each portion 5 comprises a succession of spaced perforations 7 formed through base plate 3 along corresponding bend line 6.
In the example shown perforations 7 comprise slots 8 elongated longitudinally along bend line 6; slots 8 are the same shape and size, are equally spaced, and are separated by solid portions 9 of base plate 3; and each portion 9 is shorter in length than each slot 8, both lengths being measured along relative bend line 6.
Slots 8 of each bend line 6 extend over a total length, measured along bend line 6, equal to or greater than 50% of the length of bend line 6.
At respective opposite ends 10 of relative bend line 6, i.e. at sides 4, each portion 5 also comprises two V-shaped notches 11 formed in base plate 3, with their respective vertices facing each other.
At ends 10 of bend lines 6, sides 4 in turn comprise respective roughly 90° V-shaped notches 12.
By way of example, with a base plate 3 of a total width L = 82 mm, each portion 5 has four substantially rectangular slots 8 with rounded corners and of length L1 = 12 mm and width H = 2.5 mm; slots 8 are spaced apart by a distance L2 = 6.8 mm, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the centreline axis A of base plate 3; and notches 11 are roughly 2.5 mm deep along bend line 6.
Structural member 1 is produced extremely easily by forming portions 5 in straight bar 2 to define corresponding bend lines 6 (bar 2 being produced in known manner); portions 5 are formed by punching or slotting perforations 7; and structural member 1 is then stored in the compact form described and as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Structural member 1 is transported to the installation site, where the fitter bends bar 2 by hand along bend lines 6; slots 8 and notches 11, in fact, reduce the resistance to bending of base plate 3, so that very little effort is required to bend bar 2 along bend lines 6.
The end result is a frame 13, as shown in Figure 3. Frame 13 is U-shaped, and comprises two parallel uprights 14, and a cross member 15 perpendicular to and connecting respective longitudinal ends of uprights 14; and uprights 14 and cross member 15 are defined by respective portions of bar 2 bounded by bend lines 6. Frame 13 is designed to receive a number of functional components supporting respective auxiliary members; for which purpose, base plate 3 and sides 4 of bar 2 have known seats 16 of various configurations.
Clearly, changes may be made to what is described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.