U.S. patent application number 11/701472 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-23 for shower recess and method of construction.
Invention is credited to Russell B. Cowling.
Application Number | 20070193201 11/701472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32991543 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070193201 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cowling; Russell B. |
August 23, 2007 |
Shower recess and method of construction
Abstract
An extrusion for forming a shower recess, said extrusion
including: a base having means for retaining adhesive for adhering
the member to a floor; securing means for securing a waterproof
membrane; and a feature visible on the member at a level above the
base corresponding to a bedding level for the shower recess.
Inventors: |
Cowling; Russell B.; (New
South Wales, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
PO BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
32991543 |
Appl. No.: |
11/701472 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10483299 |
Jan 7, 2004 |
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PCT/US02/21904 |
Jul 10, 2002 |
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11701472 |
Jan 30, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/846 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/40 20130101; A47K
2003/305 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/731.7 |
International
Class: |
E04C 3/30 20060101
E04C003/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 10, 2001 |
AU |
54276/01 |
Claims
1.-16. (canceled)
17. A shower recess for a flooring structure having a drain,
comprising: a bedding on the flooring structure sloping toward the
drain; at least one extrusion adapted to be fixed to the flooring
structure, the at least one extrusion having an inner side facing
inside the shower recess and an outer side facing away from the
shower recess, the at least one extrusion comprising: a base
extending generally toward the drain between the flooring structure
and the bedding, and comprising means for retaining adhesive for
fixing the base to the flooring structure; a wall extending from
the base, the wall and base having a side facing the inside;
securing means on the inner side of the wall for securing a
waterproof membrane to the wall; and a member extending from the
inner side of the wall, the member being spaced above the base at a
level corresponding to the level of the bedding; and a water
impermeable membrane located over the flooring structure and the
inner side and secured at the securing means to the inner side.
18. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the securing means
comprises a first securing means located on the member.
19. The shower recess of claim 18, wherein the first securing means
comprises a notch for receipt of an adhesive.
20. The shower recess of claim 19, wherein the member comprise a
ledge.
21. The shower recess of claim 20, wherein the securing means
further comprises second securing means located on the inner side
of the wall above the first securing means.
22. The shower recess of claim 21, wherein the second securing
means comprises a notch for receipt of an adhesive.
23. The shower recess of claim 18, wherein the membrane extends
between the bedding and the flooring structure from the drain,
between the bedding and the base and between the bedding and the
inner side of the wall to the first securing means.
24. The shower recess of claim 21, wherein the membrane extends
between the bedding and the flooring structure from the drain,
between the bedding and the base, between the bedding and the inner
side of the wall, and passed the first securing means to the second
securing means.
25. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the securing means
comprises at least one notch for receipt of an adhesive located on
the inner side.
26. The shower recess of claim 17, comprising tile on the
bedding.
27. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the means for retaining
adhesive comprises at least one groove.
28. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the membrane is
fiberglass.
29. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the member comprises a
ledge.
30. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the at least one
extrusion comprises substantially an L-shaped cross-section.
31. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the wall further
comprises an end having a lip extending from the inner side of the
wall for supporting a shower screen.
32. The shower recess of claim 31, further comprising a shower
screen supported by the lip.
33. The shower recess of claim 32, comprising a seal between the
shower screen and the lip.
34. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the at least one
extrusion comprises two said extrusions inter connected at an angle
to each other.
35. The shower recess of claim 17, wherein the bedding comprises a
mortar.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation to U.S. patent
application No. 10/483,299, filed on Jan. 7, 2004 which is a
national phase application of International Application No.
PCT/US02/21904, filed on Jul. 10, 2002, which claims priority of
Australian Patent Application No. 54276/01, filed on Jul. 10,
2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is concerned with a shower recess and
with a component used in the construction of a shower recess and
with a method for constructing a shower recess.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A common problem in the building industry is that prior art
shower recess designs have often found to be prone to leaking.
[0004] In the past it has been common for a shower recess
construction to involve the use of a hob, being a small wall
approximately 110 mm.times.75 mm around the shower recess to retain
water. Typically the hob is formed from bricks covered with shower
tiles. One problem with the construction is that water is able to
penetrate through the grout between the tiles to weaken the
adhesive fixing the tiles to the hob so that they may detach. Once
the integrity of the tiles is lost moisture may damage the area
surrounding the shower recess so that moldings and floor coverings
may have to be replaced.
[0005] A further problem is that a hob constitutes a fairly large
and unsightly wall that has to be stepped over in order to enter
the shower recess.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower
recess and a component for making a shower recesses which overcomes
or at least alleviates the above problems and which is an
alternative to prior art systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention there
is provided an extrusion for forming a shower recess, said
extrusion including:
[0008] a base having means for retaining adhesive for adhering the
member to a floor;
[0009] securing means for securing a waterproof membrane; and
[0010] a feature visible on the member at a level above the base
corresponding to a bedding level for the shower recess.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment the securing means are notches
formed along one side of the extrusion.
[0012] Preferable the means for retaining adhesive comprises one or
more grooves formed into the base of the member.
[0013] The feature for indicating the bed level may be an inwardly
protruding ridge formed along one side of the extrusion.
Alternatively it could simply be a visible line or other marking
formed along one side of the extrusion.
[0014] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a shower recess including:
[0015] an extrusion fixed to a flooring structure and defining one
or more sides of the shower recess;
[0016] a tiled surface sloping down from under an inner lip of the
extrusion to a drain;
[0017] a shower door arranged to close adjacent the inner lip and
directly above a portion of the tiled surface; and
[0018] a water impermeable layer located inside the extrusion and
above the flooring structure.
[0019] Preferably the water impermeable layer is fixed to the
extrusion by securing means. In a preferred embodiment the securing
means comprises one or more notches formed along an inner side of
the extrusion.
[0020] Preferably the shower door is arranged to close adjacent the
inner lip and directly above a portion of the tiled surface by
means of a door support which is located upon the tiles and
adjacent the inner lip.
[0021] Preferably a water impermeable seal is located between the
seal and the door support.
[0022] According to a further aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method for constructing a shower recess including the
steps of:
[0023] forming a wall of the shower recess by fixing an extrusion
to a flooring structure;
[0024] locating a water impermeable membrane over the flooring
structure and securing it to an inner wall of the extrusion;
[0025] forming a tiled floor over the membrane; and
[0026] installing a shower door support adjacent an inner lip of
the extrusion and over a portion of the tiled floor.
[0027] Preferably the water impermeable membrane is secured to the
inner wall of the extrusion by means of notches formed into the
inner wall of the extrusion.
[0028] Preferably the step of fixing the extrusion to the flooring
structure includes applying adhesive to grooves formed in a base of
the extrusion
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a cross section of an extrusion according to a
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is an L-shaped member formed from two extrusions
similar to the type illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a cross section of a shower recess according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] With reference to FIG. 1, an aluminum extrusion includes
means for retaining adhesive in the form of grooves 4 and 6 which
are intended to receive an adhesive for gluing the frame to a
concrete slab or other flooring structure. The extrusion further
includes securing means in the form of notches 3, 5 and 7 for
securing a fiberglass membrane to the extrusion. Ledge 8 comprises
a visible feature that is useful as a height guide for a tiler to
form a mortar bed to as will be described.
[0033] With reference to FIG. 2 a pair of sections 2 are joined to
form an L-frame 13 which is located in a corner of a bathroom in
order to form a shower recess. FIG. 3(4) shows in cross section a
shower recess 19 incorporating frame 13. Frame 13 is glued directly
to concrete slab 21. A fiberglass membrane 23 is located over slab
21 and L-frame 13 being secured to the L-frame by means of notches
7, 3 and 5 (FIG. 1). A mortar bed 25 is built up over the membrane
to a height indicated by ledge 8 on the L-frame. Tiles 27 are then
laid over the mortar bed and around drain grate 29. Opposite
L-frame 13 the recess is closed by wall sheeting 31 which is fixed
to stud-wall 33. Fiberglass membrane 23 runs up between wall
sheeting 31 and tiles 27 in order to prevent penetration of water
into the wall sheeting and underlying floor.
[0034] Shower screen 35 is installed and sealed to lip 9 (FIG. 1),
being the top inside edge of the L-section 13, by means of a
silicone bead 37.
[0035] In use water falling on the inside of shower screen 35 drips
onto tiles 27 and then down into drain grate 29. Any water that
penetrates the grout between tiles 27 and mortar bed 25 will be
unable to penetrate fiberglass membrane 23 and so will divert down
drain. Furthermore, the membrane is secured by means of notches 3,
5 and 7 so that the likelihood of a gap forming between membrane 23
and L-section 13, through which water might ingress, is
reduced.
[0036] While the invention has been described in relation to a
preferred embodiment it will be realized that variations and
further embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention
as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *