Abstract:
A system is provided for aesthetically covering access openings in a tub skirt when access to the interior of the skirt is not required. The system includes a bracket affixable to the tub skirt and a panel easily attachable to and detachable from the bracket. The panel, when attached, hides the bracket when viewed from the exterior of the tub skirt. Clips are used to attach the panel to said bracket. The system is an improvement over systems using velcro or brackets which are visible when a panel is in place.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/481,622 filed on Nov. 11, 2003 the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Modern bathroom design favors a look with planer surfaces and configurations which minimize the visibility of unattractive space. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in the design of bathtubs and tub accessories. Traditional tubs had a shape matching their name, showing a curved exterior surface and exposed piping. Modern design provides more boxlike shape which hides piping and unattractive space beneath and around the bottom of the tub. A common way to provide this shape as part of a new tub system or often over the top of an older tub is to install a tub skirt. A tub skirt provides a flat, aesthetically pleasing front surface.  
         [0003]     A tub skirt, while hiding unattractive space, also prevents access to this space. As a remedy, tub skirts have been provided with access openings. These openings provide access for cleaning or tub repair and to access motors and plumbing on Jacuzzi type tubs. When such activities are not occurring, the openings are covered. Common accessories used to cover these openings are decorative panels. U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,906 to Halloran discloses a skirt frame with a detachable panel. The panel is held in place with Velcro tabs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,898 to Kapp et al. discloses a skirt frame with a detachable panel. Velcro is used for attachment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,924 to Smith et al. discloses a skirt frame and mechanically attachable panel. These panels are attached by screws with caps.  
         [0004]     Skirts are often provided without panels. In other cases, the panels provided with the skirts are not aesthetically pleasing and retrofitting is desired by the consumer. Common ways to attach aftermarket or retrofit panels in order to match new bathroom colors or the like is with velcro pads because they can be attached with an adhesive. However, velcro tends to lose holding force over time and cannot be cleaned easily. This lack of holding force is especially noticeable in Jacuzzi type tubs which include motors which vibrate the tub skirt slightly. Panels which are held in place with screws and caps are difficult to remove. Removal is a time consuming process. What is desired is a simple system which remains hidden from view, but can be used repeatedly without a loss in effectiveness.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     A system is provided for aesthetically covering access openings in a tub skirt when access to the interior of the skirt is not required. The system includes a bracket affixable to the tub skirt and a panel easily attachable to and detachable from the bracket. The panel, when attached, hides the bracket when viewed from the exterior of the tub skirt. Clips, which may be integrally molded into the panel, are used to attach the panel to the bracket. The system is an improvement over systems using velcro or brackets which are visible when a panel is in place. The system is durable and can be cleaned easily. Additionally, the system does not loosen when the tub skirt is vibrated. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a system for aesthetically covering an access opening in a tub skirt;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a bracket within the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3   a  is a bottom view of a section of the bracket of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3   b  is a side view of a section of the bracket of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3   c  is a cutaway view of a section of the bracket of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4   a  is a front view of a panel of the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4   b  is a side view of the panel of the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4   c  is a cutaway view of a section of the panel of the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a section of an alternate system for aesthetically covering an access opening in a tub skirt;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7   a  is a cut away view of a clip within a system for aesthetically covering an access opening in a tub skirt; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7   b  is a perspective view of the clip of  FIG. 7   a  in a system for aesthetically covering an access opening in a tub skirt. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     As described in more detail below and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , a system  10  for aesthetically covering access openings  12  in a tub skirt  14  is provided which includes a bracket  24  affixable to the tub skirt  14  and a panel  40  easily attachable to and detachable from the bracket  24 . The panel  40  may be provided with aesthetic surface decoration upon its face. When in place and viewed from the exterior of the tub skirt  14 , the bracket  24  is hidden from view by the panel  40 .  
         [0019]     The system  10  may be a part of or affixed to a tub skirt  14 . The skirt  14  may be of a type known in the art, typically having a planer front face which defines one or more access openings  12 . The skirt  14  may be used with any type of tub, but in a preferred embodiment of the invention the skirt  14  is used with a bath tub  16 . Alternatively the system may be used with cabinets and access passages on walls to access plumbing for example. In yet another embodiment, the system does not cover an opening, but is placed upon a solid surface to match another system which is covering an opening. When used with a tub, the tub skirt  14  may be integrally formed with a bath tub  16  or may be provided separately. If separately provided, the skirt  14  is easily affixed over the top of the tub  16 . The tub skirt  14  functions to provide a simple surface which is easy to clean and hides unattractive space around and beneath the tub  16 . This space often has little use and may be distracting to the eye. In other cases, this space holds plumbing or motors which require periodic access. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tub skirt  14  has a length which is equivalent to length of the tub  16 . However any size tub skirt  14  may be used in order to mesh with the architecture of the room in which the tub  16  is placed. In a preferred embodiment the tub skirt  14  extends from a single side of the tub  16  and hides that face of the tub from view. However, depending upon the way to tub  16  is positioned in a room, the skirt  14  may extend to hide any or all of the remaining three faces of the tub  16  as required by the architecture of the room.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  a bracket  24  is shown having a rectangular shape. The bracket  24  may be any shape and may be provided in any number of pieces. Typical shapes include rectangular, square and a simulated tile shape. The shape of the bracket  24  is typically determined by the shape of the access opening  12  defined by the tub skirt  14 . The bracket  24  includes four sides having a rectangular cross section, although any cross sectional shape may be used. The bracket  24  may be formed from plastic in a molding process, typically injection molding. The bracket  24  functions as a support for the panel  40  which covers the access opening  12  in the skirt  14 . Preferably the bracket  24  may be affixed to the tub skirt  14  using rivets, but may also be affixed using glue or screws. The bracket  24  defines a plurality of apertures  28  for use in attaching the bracket  24  to the tub skirt  14 .  FIG. 6  shows a typical rivet  60  and apertures  28  within the bracket  24  to allow passage of the rivet  60 . The bracket  24  may also be attached using glue or two-sided tape. The bracket  24  provides a support for the panel  40 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the panel  40  may be easily attached and detached from the bracket  24 . The bracket  24  is sized in accordance with the access opening  12  being covered by the panel  40 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention the bracket  24  is affixed around the perimeter of the access opening  12 . The bracket  24  may be affixed to the front face of the tub skirt  14 , but is hidden from view when the panel  40  is in place.  
         [0021]     The bracket  24  also defines a plurality of fastener mating surfaces  30  as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3   a  through  3   c  and  6 . Any number of fastener mating surfaces  30  may be placed on any edge of the bracket  24 .  FIG. 2  shows mating surfaces  20  on two sides of the bracket  24  while  FIG. 6  shows mating surfaces  30  of four sides. A fastener mating surface  30  may have the shape of a tapered channel  34  as shown in  FIG. 3   a . The channel  34  may taper from a wider end at the front of the bracket  24  to a narrower end at the rear of the bracket  24 . Thus, as the panel  40  is applied to the bracket  24  the mating surface  30  is easily located at its wide end. As the panel  40  is pushed into a locked position, a clip  50  upon the panel  40  progresses along the channel  34  to the narrower end. The panel  40  becomes aligned as the clip  50  reaches the narrow end. The mating surfaces  30  may be provided in a non-tapered version as well as shown in  FIG. 6 . The mating surface  30  includes a plurality of raised ridges  32 . The raised ridges  32  function to engage clips  50  which are on the panel  40 , thus holding the panel  40  in place. The raised ridges  32  preferably are molded as part of the bracket  24  upon its formation. The raised ridges  32  are oriented transversely to the direction of insertion of the panel  40  and its clips  50 . As described in more detail below, the raised ridges  32  interact with the clips  50  to hold the panel  40  in place.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 4   a - 4   c  and  7   a - 7   b  a panel  40  is provided which includes a face  42 , back  44  and a plurality of clips  50 . The face  42  preferably has a shape which is similar to the shape of the access opening  12  in the tub skirt  14 , but is sized to cover the opening  12  when in place. The panel  40  may be formed from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) or AES polymer: The face  42  of the panel  40  may be contoured for decorative purposes. The face  42  may also include raised portions. Extending from the back surface  44  are a plurality of clips  50 . The clips  50  include a straight portion  52  which begins at the junction with the panel and extends to an end with an angled portion  54 . The angled portion  54  may be any shape which defines a leading interactive surface  56  and trailing interactive surface  58  which mates with the mating surfaces  30  on the bracket  24 . The leading interactive surface  56  and trailing interactive surface  58  may be pitched at equal angles but opposite directions with respect to the straight portion  52  to form a V-shape. The clips  50  may be molded integrally with the remainder of the panel  40  or attached in a separate process as shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b . The clips  50  are flexible, but resilient. The clips  50  interact with the mating surfaces  30  upon the bracket  24 . The panel  40  may include a number of clips  50  which corresponds with the number and placement of mating surfaces  30  on the bracket  24 . As the panel  40  is pushed into place the leading interactive surface  56  of the angled portion  54  of the clip  50  will engage the front side of a first raised ridge  32  upon the bracket. As the panel  40  is pushed further towards the bracket  24 , the clip  50  flexes and travels over the raised ridge  32  to the ridge”s back side. The panel  40  is now prevented from retraction by the trailing interactive surface  58  if released. As the panel  40  is pushed farther inwards, the clip  50  rides over each successive raised ridge until a desired position is reached. The panel  40  may also be removed easily. The panel  40  is pulled and the trailing interactive surface  58  of the clip  50  rides over successive raised ridges  32  as the resilient clip  50  deflects and returns to position.  
         [0023]     Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred and alternate embodiments, the invention is not limited to these specific embodiments. Minor variations and insubstantial differences in the various combinations of materials and methods of application may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art while remaining within the scope of the invention as claimed and equivalents. Use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use.