U.S. patent application number 11/891394 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for shower door track.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAAX CANADA,INC.. Invention is credited to Philippe Belanger, William Harvie, III.
Application Number | 20090038070 11/891394 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40345104 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090038070 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Belanger; Philippe ; et
al. |
February 12, 2009 |
Shower door track
Abstract
A shower door track for a shower having at least one
displaceable door panel comprises a longitudinal exterior track
portion having an exterior surface, an interior surface and at
least one exterior connector; a longitudinal interior track portion
having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a displacement
channel for receiving a displacement assembly connected to the door
panel and at least one interior connector; the interior connector
being engageable with a corresponding one of the exterior connector
to secure the exterior track portion to the interior track portion
to form the shower door track.
Inventors: |
Belanger; Philippe;
(Montreal, CA) ; Harvie, III; William; (Yardley,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kenneth H. Johnson
P.O. Box 630708
Houston
TX
77263
US
|
Assignee: |
MAAX CANADA,INC.
|
Family ID: |
40345104 |
Appl. No.: |
11/891394 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/607 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/607 |
International
Class: |
A47K 3/00 20060101
A47K003/00 |
Claims
1. A shower door track for a shower having at least one
displaceable door panel, comprising: a longitudinal exterior track
portion having an exterior surface, an interior surface and at
least one exterior connector; a longitudinal interior track portion
having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a displacement
channel for receiving a displacement assembly connected to said
door panel and at least one interior connector; said interior
connector is engageable with a corresponding one of said exterior
connector to secure said exterior track portion to said interior
track portion to form said shower door track.
2. A shower door track as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
longitudinal interior track portion comprises two interior
sections, said exterior track portion having at least two exterior
connectors and said sections each having at least one of said
interior connector engageable with a corresponding one of said at
least two exterior connectors.
3. A shower door track as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of said
interior sections comprises said displacement channel.
4. A shower door track as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
displacement channel is provided partly by one of said interior
section and partly by another of said interior sections.
5. A shower door track as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least
one exterior connector is top and bottom exterior connectors on
respective top and bottom ends of the longitudinal track portion
and wherein said at least one interior connector is top and bottom
interior connectors, wherein said top and bottom interior
connectors are engageable with said corresponding ones of said top
and bottom exterior connectors.
6. The shower door track of claim 5, wherein said connectors are
extrusions.
7. A shower door track as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least
one exterior connector is a locking plug provided on said interior
surface of said exterior track portion and said at least one
interior connector is a locking clip provided on said exterior
surface of said interior track portion, wherein said locking plug
is engageable in said locking clip.
8. The shower door track of claim 1, wherein said connectors are
provided at both longitudinal ends of said track portions.
9. The shower door track of claim 1, wherein said connectors are
longitudinal and extend along said track portions.
10. The shower door track of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal
exterior track portion further comprises fastening means on said
interior surface to secure said track portion to a wall portion of
said shower.
11. The shower door track of claim 1, wherein said displacement
channel is U-shaped.
12. The shower door track of claim 1, wherein said connector is a
hook extending towards a center of said track.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to shower doors and, more
particularly, to tracks provided on the shower frame to allow
displacement of the shower doors.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Rectangular showers typically have slidable shower doors
along the longest length of the shower. The showers doors are held
in a rail at the top and the bottom of the shower and a handle is
provided on the door(s) to slide them and create a passageway to
enter the shower. They can alternatively have hinged doors which
open towards the exterior of the shower. Rectangular showers are
typically provided within a bathtub and take up considerable space
in the bathroom.
[0005] Corner showers, adapted to be installed in a corner of the
room, typically have hinged doors which open toward the exterior of
the shower, thereby creating a passageway to enter the shower.
Corner showers are more space-efficient since they only take up a
typically vacant space in the bathroom. However, the hinged door
requires a considerably large empty space facing the corner
shower.
[0006] In some corner showers, there are two fixed panels and two
sliding panels forming doors which are held in a rail or track at
the top and the bottom of the shower and a handle is provided on
the door(s) to slide them and create a passageway to enter the
shower. Other corner showers have four sliding panels with two
fixed panels for wide and easy central access to the shower. The
four sliding panels are provided as two hinged panels for each side
and the opening is created in the middle. Rollers are typically
mounted on the sliding panels and are inserted in the rail or
track. Corner showers can have a round frame or an angled
frame.
[0007] In prior art doors, the shower frame is typically made of
aluminum. When bending the aluminum tracks to create the round
track portion for the round corner shower, care must be taken since
the aluminum may bend in inappropriate directions under the
pressure, especially if a strong angle (small radius) is wanted.
This crimping of the rail impedes the proper displacement of the
shower doors via the rollers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] One aspect of the invention provides a shower door track for
a shower having at least one displaceable door panel. The shower
door track comprises a longitudinal exterior track portion having
an exterior surface, an interior surface and at least one exterior
connector; a longitudinal interior track portion having an exterior
surface, an interior surface, a displacement channel for receiving
a displacement assembly connected to the door panel and at least
one interior connector; the interior connector being engageable
with a corresponding one of the exterior connector to secure the
exterior track portion to the interior track portion to form the
shower door track.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken
in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 comprises FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, wherein FIG. 1A shows
a round corner shower having two fixed panels and four sliding
panels and FIG. 1B shows an angled corner shower having two fixed
panels and two sliding panels;
[0011] FIG. 2 comprises FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, wherein FIG. 2a shows
a round corner shower in which the sliding panels are in the closed
position and FIG. 2b shows the corner shower of FIG. 2a with the
sliding panels in the open position;
[0012] FIG. 3 comprises FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, wherein FIG. 3A shows
a track used in a round corner shower and FIG. 3B shows a track
used in an angled corner shower;
[0013] FIG. 4 comprises FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, wherein FIG. 4A is a
side perspective view of a double roller of the prior art inserted
in the prior art rail of a corner shower frame and FIG. 4B is a
side perspective view of the sliding panel inserted in the top and
bottom prior art rails of a corner shower frame using the double
roller of FIG. 4A at the top and single rollers of the prior art at
the bottom;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows the integral piece which forms the track header
of the prior art;
[0015] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the two-piece track header
comprising FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, wherein FIG. 6a is the exterior
portion of the track header and FIG. 6B is the interior portion of
the track header;
[0016] FIG. 7 shows the assembled two-piece header of FIG. 6A and
FIG. 6B forming a rail in which is inserted a prior art roller;
[0017] FIG. 8 comprises FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, wherein FIG.
8A shows an alternative embodiment of the exterior portion of the
track header with a locking plug and FIG. 8B shows an alternative
embodiment of the interior portion of the track header with a
locking clip and FIG. 8C shows the assembled two-piece header of
FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B forming a rail;
[0018] FIG. 9 comprises FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, wherein FIG. 9A shows
an alternative embodiment in which the exterior portion of the
track header does not have any C-shaped portions and FIG. 9B shows
the assembled two-piece header which uses the exterior portion of
FIG. 9A;
[0019] FIG. 10 comprises FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C which show
examples of alternative embodiments for the C-shaped portion of
FIG. 6B; and
[0020] FIG. 11 comprises FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C and FIG. 11D,
wherein FIG. 11A shows an alternative embodiment of the exterior
portion of the track header which has a central locking plug and an
extrusion at each end, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C each are a
complementing half of the interior portion of the track header with
complementing extrusions at one end and a half of a locking clip at
the other end, and FIG. 11D shows the assembled three-piece
header.
[0021] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The track header of a preferred embodiment is made of at
least two pieces which are held together using connectors. The
separation of the track into at least two pieces which can be
assembled into one track allows bending of the exterior piece of
the track to a required angle without deforming the track.
[0023] FIG. 1A shows a round corner shower 10 having two fixed
panels (front walls) 12 and four sliding panels (doors) 14. In this
round corner shower, the walls and doors are made of glass in an
aluminum frame and are translucid. As shown in FIG. 2, the four
slidable panels (doors) 14 are adapted to be rolled in a closed
position (FIG. 2A) and in an open position (FIG. 2B) by being
guided in top 16 and bottom 18 round tracks using double rollers 20
and single rollers 22. The user uses door frame 24 to slide the
doors. The shower can further have two back walls 26 making up the
corner which are typically affixed to existing walls 19 of the
room. These back walls can be omitted if the existing walls of the
room are covered in an appropriate water-proof material, such as
tiling, for a shower. If they are omitted, appropriate seals should
be provided at the junction of the fixed walls of the shower with
the existing walls. The corner shower has a bottom recipient 11 for
draining the water. The shower can have a roof (not shown) or can
be roofless. FIG. 1B shows an angled corner shower having two fixed
panels 12 and two sliding panels 14'. The sliding panels 14' are
guided in top 16' and bottom 18' angled tracks.
[0024] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG.
2, the total height of the shower could vary between 170 cm to 185
cm. The sliding panels of the doors could have a height which
varies between 175 cm to 170 cm. All the glass panels used for
these doors could vary from 3 mm to 10 mm of thickness. The width
of the shower can vary from 32 in to 42 in.
[0025] FIG. 3A shows a track 16 used in a round corner shower and
FIG. 3B shows a track 16' used in an angled corner shower. The
round track 16 comprises three portions, namely two straight
portions 16A (a right-side insert and a left-side insert) and one
curved portion, namely curved front side insert 16B. The track 16
has an exposed surface 30 on the exterior of the shower and an
interior surface (not shown) on the interior of the shower. The
track 16 is preferably equipped with bumpers 32 affixed to the
track portions 16B to prevent the rollers holding the sliding doors
from reaching the end of the track 16 and prevent bumping of the
sliding panels on the side walls of the shower.
[0026] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, straight
portions 16A each have a length varying from 12 to 17 inches
depending on the width of the shower. Curved portion 16B has a
length varying from 15 to 22 inches. Curved portion 16B creates an
angle of about 45 degrees.
[0027] The angled track 16' comprises three straight portions,
namely a left side insert 16'A, a front side insert 16'B and a
right side insert 16.degree. C. The track 16' has an exposed
surface (not shown) on the exterior of the shower and an interior
surface 36 on the interior of the shower. U-Shaped portion 38 is
visible. Bumpers 34 are affixed to the track portions 16.degree. C.
and 16'A to prevent the rollers holding the sliding doors from
reaching the end of the track 16' and prevent bumping of the
sliding panels on the side walls of the shower.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, left side
insert 16'A and right side insert 16.degree. C. each have a length
varying from 13 to 17 inches depending on the width of the shower.
Front side insert 16'B has a length of about 25 inches. The left
and right side inserts 16'A and 16.degree. C. are placed at an
angle of about 247.5 degrees to the front side insert 16'B.
[0029] FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of a double roller of the
prior art inserted in the prior art rail of a corner shower frame.
The double roller 20 is inserted in the interior portion of the
track 16. It comprises a roller body 40 and two wheels 42. The
roller body 40 is adapted to protrude from rail 16 and the wheels
are retained within track 16 to let the roller slide in the track.
Roller body 40 is provided with a female member 44, in this case, a
vertical cylindrical passage, to fasten it to the shower door using
a male member, typically a screw which is inserted in both the
female member 44 and a female member of door roller adapter 46, in
this case, a vertical cylindrical passage which may be threaded,
provided on the sliding panel 14. FIG. 4B is a side perspective
view of the sliding panel 14 inserted in the top 16 and bottom 18
prior art rails of a corner shower frame using the double roller of
FIG. 4A and prior art single rollers 22.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows one end of the integral piece which forms the
top track header 16 of the prior art. Two C-shaped portions 50 are
used to insert screws to secure the track to the wall of the shower
frame. A U-shaped portion 52 receives the wheels 42 of the rollers
20. The exposed surface 30 of the shower track and the interior
surface 36 of the shower track are shown.
[0031] FIG. 6A is the exterior portion of an embodiment of the
two-piece track header and FIG. 6B is the interior portion of an
embodiment of the two piece track header adapted to be connected to
the embodiment of FIG. 6A. The exterior portion of the two-piece
header of FIG. 6A comprises an exterior surface 60 of the track,
two C-Shaped portions 61 (top C), 62 (bottom C) used to insert
screws to secure the track to the wall of the shower frame which
are provided on the interior surface 67 of the exterior portion and
two connectors or extrusions 63 at the ends of the exterior
portion. Extrusions 63 are used to secure the exterior portion to
the interior portion of FIG. 6B. Complementing connectors or
extrusions 64 are provided at the ends of the interior portion. The
interior portion also comprises an interior surface 65 and a
U-shaped portion 66 which receives the wheels 42 of the rollers 20
which can be the rollers of the prior art or any other roller. An
exterior surface 68 of the interior portion ensures stability and
strength of the assembled top track 70.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, once assembled, the exterior portion and
the interior portion form the top track 70 of the shower.
Extrusions 63 and 64 have gripped to securely assemble the top
track 70. In use, the U-shaped portion 66 of the assembled top
track 70 of the shower receives the wheels 42 of the roller 20.
[0033] Extrusion 63 is shown to be a hook on the exterior surface
60 of the track which extends towards the center of the exterior
portion. The tip of extrusion 63 is sloped, with the larger width
towards the inside of the portion and the smaller width towards the
outside of the portion. Complementing extrusion 64 is therefore
shown to be a complementing hook on the exterior surface 68 of the
interior portion of the track which extends towards the outside and
the side wall 69 of the interior portion. The tip of extrusion 64
is also sloped, with the larger width towards the inside of the
portion and the smaller width towards the outside of the portion.
The extrusions are sufficiently wide to have strength and retain
the track portions together but sufficiently flexible to allow
assembly.
[0034] Alignment of the extrusions 63 and 64 is such that, during
assembly, as the two track portions are pushed one against the
other, the sloped tips contact and the extrusions bend slightly
away from each other until the larger width of the extrusions grip
one another. The track is then assembled.
[0035] The extrusions 63 and 64 can be provided along the whole
length of the track portion, for increased strength, or only at the
end of it, for reduced material costs. The extrusions 63 can be
provided at the end of the exterior surface so that the appearance
of the exterior surface is not affected by the assembly mechanism
of the track.
[0036] Preferably, top and bottom extrusions 63 are identical in
shape and top and bottom extrusions 64 are identical in shape.
However, all connectors could be differently shaped as long as top
connector 63 is made to be connected with top connector 64 and
similarly for bottom connectors.
[0037] In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6A, the exterior track
portion has a length of 1.975 in. The exposed surface of the track
60 comprises a straight portion and two curved portions having
radiuses of about 16 mm. The C-shaped portions 61 and 62 have an
inside radius of about 1.778 mm and an outer radius of about 3.048
mm. The opening is about 1.8 mm. The extrusions 63 have an angle of
45.degree. and a depth of 0.889 mm.
[0038] In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6B, the interior track
portion has a length of 1.975 in. The extrusions 64 have a depth of
0.635 mm and a length of 2.790 mm. The U-shaped channel 66 has a
radius of 3.429 mm. The superior lip 69 that covers the groove has
a length of 11.049 mm. The distance between the superior lip and
the top of the U-shaped channel is 25.273 mm.
[0039] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, many
variants of the connectors 63 and 64 can be provided without
departing from the invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the exterior
track portion 82 can be provided with a locking plug 84. Then, the
interior track portion 86 is provided with a corresponding locking
clip 88 which is adapted to receive and grip the locking plug 84.
FIG. 8C shows the assembled two-piece header of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B
forming a rail, in which the locking plug 84 is received in the
locking clip 88. Other alternatives for the extrusions of FIGS. 6A
and 6B will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
[0040] FIG. 9A shows an alternative embodiment in which the
exterior portion of the track header does not have any C-shaped
portions and FIG. 9B shows the assembled two-piece header which
uses the exterior portion of FIG. 9A. In this embodiment, the track
is affixed to the wall of the shower and to the other track
portions in another way, such as by inserting the end of the track
in an opening of the wall.
[0041] Also shown in FIG. 9B is a modified U-shaped portion which
does not have a round bottom. This rectangular U-shaped portion
could receive a displacement assembly which allows to slide the
doors without the use of wheels, for example through the use of
legs on the door roller adapter covered in a material allowing
continuous displacement of the roller assembly. The U-shaped
portion can therefore take on many different shapes and can be
replaced by other means which allow displacement of the
displacement assembly within the track.
[0042] FIG. 10 shows examples of alternative displacement channels
which can be used to receive the displacement assembly. FIG. 10A
shows a U-shaped portion 100 which is located near the top of the
interior portion and the side wall 69 of the interior portion has
been omitted. FIG. 10B shows a O-shaped channel 102 with an opening
at the bottom to facilitate engagement of the displacement assembly
with the door panel. FIG. 10C shows a C-shaped channel 104 which is
created within the wall of the interior portion and is adapted to
receive a displacement assembly.
[0043] All previous examples of the track header are shown with an
exterior track portion and an interior track portion. The track
header is therefore a two-piece track header. As will be readily
understood to one skilled in the art, even though it may be
preferable to keep the exterior track portion in a single piece for
aesthetic purposes (the exterior surface 60 of the exterior portion
82 being apparent to the user), the interior and the exterior track
portions could be made of a plurality of pieces.
[0044] FIG. 11 shows an example of an alternative track header
which comprises three pieces instead of two as shown in the
previous examples. FIG. 11A shows an alternative embodiment of the
exterior portion 82 of the track header which has a central locking
plug 84 and an extrusion 63 at each end. FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C each
are a complementing half 110, 112 of the interior portion of the
track header which can be called interior sections with
complementing extrusions 64 at one end to connect to extrusions 63
on the exterior portion and a half of a locking clip 114a, 114b at
the other end to connect to the locking plug 84. FIG. 11D shows the
assembled three-piece header. When assembled, the extrusions 63 and
64 have connected and each half of the locking clip 114a, 114b has
connected with the locking plug 84 to secure each half 110, 112 of
the interior portion to the exterior portion 82 of the track
header.
[0045] In FIG. 11D, the displacement channel is shown to be
provided partly by both sections of the interior portion. As will
be readily understood, depending on the shape of the sections, the
displacement channel could be provided solely by one of the
sections.
[0046] In the present description, all female members can be
replaced by male members and corresponding male members modified
accordingly and vice-versa.
[0047] The embodiments of the invention described above are
intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is
therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *