U.S. patent application number 12/116814 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-13 for manufactured shower pan.
Invention is credited to James S. Barro, F. Leon Peters.
Application Number | 20080276364 12/116814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39968164 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080276364 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barro; James S. ; et
al. |
November 13, 2008 |
Manufactured Shower Pan
Abstract
A manufactured shower pan includes a drain, a molded waterproof
liner having a properly sloped floor and extending side walls, a
honeycomb liner support, a solid curb system and a processed dry
mud pack to provide aeration and drainage connected to the weep
system in the drain.
Inventors: |
Barro; James S.; (San Juan
Capistrano, CA) ; Peters; F. Leon; (San Juan
Capistrano, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CROCKETT & CROCKETT, P.C.
26020 ACERO, SUITE 200
MISSION VIEJO
CA
92691
US
|
Family ID: |
39968164 |
Appl. No.: |
12/116814 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60928007 |
May 7, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/613 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/40 20130101; Y10T
29/49826 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/613 ;
29/428 |
International
Class: |
A47K 3/00 20060101
A47K003/00 |
Claims
1. A manufactured shower pan comprising: a curb forming one or more
sides of a generally horizontal polygon, the polygon oriented to
enclose a drain; a honeycomb liner support within the curb
providing vertical support and drainage slope for a molded
waterproof liner; a molded waterproof liner resting on the
honeycomb liner support forming a waterproof floor and sides with
suitable drainage slope and a connection to the drain, the
connection including a weep system; and a processed dry mud pack
engaging the molded waterproof liner to provide aeration and
drainage connected to the weep system in the connection to the
drain.
2. The manufactured shower pan of claim 1 wherein the curb forms
two sides of a rectangular polygon enclosing a drain.
3. The manufactured shower pan of claim 1 wherein the curb is
formed of high density foam injected into a curb space in the pan
liner.
4. The manufactured shower pan of claim 1 wherein the honeycomb
liner support is formed together with the pan liner as one
piece.
5. A manufactured shower pan for engaging a drain through a floor,
comprising: a rectangular curb secured to the floor enclosing a
shower floor including the drain; a support frame within the
rectangular curb, the support frame having a drain access port for
exposing the drain; a pan liner forming a waterproof layer over the
rectangular curb and the support frame, the pan liner having a
drain connector for connecting to the drain; and a mud pack secured
within the pan liner.
6. The manufactured shower pan of claim 5 wherein the support frame
comprises: a honeycomb lattice support frame within the rectangular
curb, the support frame having a drain access port for exposing the
drain.
7. The manufactured shower pan of claim 5 wherein the support frame
comprises: a circle pattern lattice support frame within the
rectangular curb, the support frame having a drain access port for
exposing the drain.
8. The manufactured shower pan of claim 5 wherein the support frame
comprises: a rectangular lattice support frame within the
rectangular curb, the support frame having a drain access port for
exposing the drain.
9. A method of installing a manufactured shower pan in a shower
site containing a drain comprising the steps: securing a curb on
one or more sides of the shower site; securing a pan support within
the shower site adjacent the curb; and locating a pan liner having
a drain connector and a mud pack over the curb and the pan support
with the drain connector engaging the drain.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of locating a pan liner
further comprises the steps: locating a pan liner having a drain
connector over the curb and the pan support with the drain
connector engaging the drain; and securing a mud pack within the
pan liner.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from copending U.S.
provisional patent application 60/928,007 filed May 7, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS
[0002] The inventions described below relate to the field of
construction and more specifically to the field manufactured shower
pans.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0003] Historically shower pan installation required several days
to accomplish and depended on the skill of the craftsmen to not
leak. The decrease in skill in the construction trades and the
pressure to cut costs are making manufactured showers and pans more
attractive. However, conventional manufactured showers and shower
pans are either too flexible for ceramic tiles to remain attached
over time or do not provide sufficient drainage beneath the tile
and mold and fungus flourish.
SUMMARY
[0004] A manufactured shower pan includes a drain, a molded
waterproof liner having a properly sloped floor and extending side
walls, a honeycomb liner support, a curb system and a processed dry
mud pack to provide aeration and drainage connected to the weep
system in the drain.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a cross section view of a manufactured shower
pan.
[0006] FIG. 2A is a top view of a solid shower curb.
[0007] FIG. 2B is a cross section of the solid shower curb of FIG.
2A taken along A-A.
[0008] FIG. 3A is a top view of a sloped shower liner support.
[0009] FIG. 3B is a cross section of the sloped shower liner
support of FIG. 3A taken along B-B.
[0010] FIG. 4A is a top view of a shower liner.
[0011] FIG. 4B is a cross section of the shower liner of FIG. 4A
taken along C-C.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of a manufactured shower pan
with tiles and sewer line attached.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross section view of a manufactured shower pan
with a dual side curb.
[0014] FIG. 7A is a top view of the dual side curb and shower pan
liner of the manufactured shower pan of FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 7B is a cross section of the dual side curb and shower
pan liner of FIG. 7A taken along D-D.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS
[0016] A manufactured shower pan 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1
includes a solid or unitary curb 12 to support and contain sloped
pan support 14. Together, curb 12 and pan support 14, support pan
liner 15 which is the waterproof liner that includes drain
connection 16 that extends through floor 18. Pan liner 15 supports
and contains mud pack 20. Mud pack 20 may be secured to the pan
liner during manufacturing or installed in the field.
[0017] Curb 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Curb 12 is
composed of three or more sides such as sides 21 that are ideally
formed together as any suitable polygon enclosing the shower floor.
Shape 12F of the shower floor may adopt any suitable size and
shape. In an alternate configuration, curb 12 may be formed of
separate side elements that may simplify manufacturing and
shipping. The separate side elements may include complementary
engagement elements at each end to engage adjacent curb sides. Curb
12 may only be used on one side of the waterproof liner and the
remaining two or more sides of the polygon may be vertical to blend
into a vertical shower wall. Generally, the curb and the pan liner
will be square or generally rectangular.
[0018] Pan support 14 is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Pan
support 14 provides sufficiently rigid support to pan liner 15 to
enable attachment of ceramic tiles to pan liner 15 and the pan
support will prevent flexing of the pan liner which will crack and
dislodge the ceramic tiles or other surface covering. Pan support
14 may be used to compensate for a floor that is not level and also
includes slope 22 to permit drainage of water in the shower pan.
Slope 22 affords drainage to drain opening 24. Support 14 is shown
composed of numerous adjacent hexagonal cells such as cell 26 to
form a honeycomb lattice or pattern to provide lightweight, and
rigid support for pan liner 15. Any other support configuration may
be used such as cylinders, open or closed cell foam, such as a
rectangular or triangular lattice or any other configuration. Pan
support 14 may be produced as a separate element as discussed, or
it may be formed as an integral element of pan liner 15.
Alternatively, pan support 14 may be secured to pan liner 15 during
manufacturing using any suitable technique such heat or sonic
welding, adhesives or co molding.
[0019] Pan liner 15 is a waterproof element as shown in FIGS. 4A
and 4B. The shape of floor 15F corresponds to shape 12F of curb 12.
Drain connection 16 is integral with pan liner 15 to prevent
leakage. Lower drain connection 16L may be a slip connection to a
drain pipe or may be threaded. Drain connection 16 also includes
weep paths 27 for conducting moisture from mud pack 20 into the
drain pipe. Floor 15F of a pan liner such as pan liner 15 includes
slope 28 corresponding to support slope 22.
[0020] Curb shape 12S may alternatively be formed into pan liner 15
creating curb space 15C. Curb space 15C may be filled during
manufacturing or during field installation with any suitable
material such as high density expanding foam, PVC foams or other
suitable fillers.
[0021] Mud pack 20 is a dry, generally planar element sized and
sloped to fit within liner floor 15F and provide a substrate for
attachment of ceramic tiles. Mud pack 20 provides a path for water
absorbed through tile grout and thin set used to attach ceramic
tiles to pass into drain 16.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 5, shower pan 30 may be installed by
setting curb 31 in a desired location such as a shower site and
securing it to floor 32 and or any adjacent walls. A plumber should
have already located a drain pipe such as drain pipe 33 at or near
the center of the shower site to be occupied by shower pan 30. Pan
support 34 is then located within curb 31 and drain pipe 33 should
be visible through drain access 34D. Pan support 34 may be secured
to floor 32 and or curb 31 for additional stability using any
suitable technique such as fasteners or adhesive. Pan liner 35 is
placed to cover curb 31 and pan support 34 with drain connector 35D
engaging drain pipe 33. Pan liner 35 may be secured to curb 31 and
pan support 34 for additional stability using any suitable
technique such as fasteners or adhesive. Mud pack 36 is then
located within the floor of pan liner 35. The preceding steps may
all be performed within a single day and upon securing mud pack 36
to the pan liner, any suitable surface covering such as stone,
slate and or tiles such as tiles 37 may be set in the shower pan
and the shower walls. This technique permits a shower pan to be set
and tiled in a single day.
[0023] The drain connector 35D has been discussed as centered in
pan liner 35. Any suitable orientation of the drain connection may
be used as long as the pan liner is formed with the drain
connection in the predetermined location.
[0024] Alternate shower pan 40 of FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B is constructed
as discussed above with curb space 42 extending along only two
sides, sides 43 and 45 of the shower floor 40F and an integral pan
support and factory installed mud pack. One or more sides of a
shower pan will include a curb or curb space. Curb space 42 is
filled at the factory with a high density form. Pan liner sides 46,
47, 48 and 49 are not engaging a curb or including a curb space and
are vertical to engage a vertical shower wall and enable tile from
the shower wall to extend in a generally unbroken plane to the
shower floor. In this configuration, pan liner 44 is a six-sided
polygon enclosing shower floor 40F.
[0025] Installation of alternate shower pan 40 may be accomplished
by locating pan 40 with drain connector 40D engaging drain 54. Pan
40 may be secured to floor 53 and pan liner sides 46, 47, 48 and 49
may be secured to walls such as wall 51. If curb space 42 is filled
at the factory and mud pack 52 is installed at the factory, pan 40
will be ready to support installation of tile or stone or other
surface covering.
[0026] While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods
have been described in reference to the environment in which they
were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of
the inventions. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised
without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope
of the appended claims.
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