Abstract:
There is described a door assembly for a bathing enclosure, comprising: a frame; a rotatable panel rotatably securable to a wall; and a slidable panel slidably secured to the frame, wherein a sliding motion of the slidable panel triggers a rotation of the rotatable panel, wherein the door assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the door assembly is in the closed position, the rotatable and slidable panels are adjacent to one another and are unparallel and wherein when the door assembly is in the open position, the rotatable and slidable panels overlap one another and are parallel together.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to shower or bathtub doors, and more specifically to sliding door assemblies for shower or bathtub enclosures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Sliding door assemblies for bathing enclosures such as shower enclosures or bathtub enclosures usually include a fixed panel which is disposed on a first vertical plane and a slidable door panel which is disposed on a second vertical plane parallel to the first vertical plane. The slidable door panel is adapted to slide along the second vertical plane relative to the fixed panel. The slidable door panel overlaps the fixed panel when the door assembly is open, thereby creating a access opening into the enclosure next to the fixed panel, and is moved in front of the access opening to close the door assembly. 
         [0003]    In most shower or bathtub door assemblies, the slidable door panel still overlaps partially the fixed panel when the door assembly is closed. Unfortunately, this creates an area between the slidable door panel and the fixed panel which is relatively hard to reach, and therefore relatively hard to clean. 
         [0004]    There is therefore a need for a system which can overcome at least one of the above-identified drawbacks. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to a broad aspect, there is provided a door assembly for a bathing enclosure, comprising: a frame; a rotatable panel rotatably securable to a wall; and a slidable panel slidably secured to the frame, wherein a sliding motion of the slidable panel triggers a rotation of the rotatable panel, wherein the door assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the door assembly is in the closed position, the rotatable and slidable panels are adjacent to one another and are unparallel and wherein when the door assembly is in the open position, the rotatable and slidable panels overlap one another and are parallel together. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the door assembly further comprises a first guide member secured to the rotatable panel and a second guide member secured to the slidable panel and engageable with the first guide member for triggering the rotation of the rotatable panel. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, wherein the first guide member comprises a groove extending therealong. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the groove comprises a first groove portion being parallel to the rotatable panel and a second groove portion extending from the first groove portion at an angle therefrom, the second groove portion being adjacent to the slidable panel when the door assembly is in the closed position. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the second guide member comprises a pin sized and shaped to be received in the groove, a motion of the pin within the groove triggering the rotation of the rotatable panel. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the door assembly further comprises a rail member extending along the frame and a roller assembly secured to the slidable panel and engaging the rail member to allow a sliding motion of the slidable panel relative to the frame 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the door assembly further comprises a rotating connector assembly securable to the wall and the rotatable panel. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the rotating connector assembly comprises a plate securable to the wall and a panel receiving member rotatably secured to the plate, the panel receiving member for receiving the rotatable panel therein. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the plate comprises a cylindrical protrusion protruding therefrom and the panel receiving member comprises a cylindrical recess for receiving the cylindrical protrusion therein and allowing a rotation of the panel receiving member relative to the plate. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the panel receiving member has a substantially U-shape for receiving the rotatable panel therein 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the panel receiving member composes a male jaw portion and a female jaw portion rotatably secured to the male jaw portion, the rotatable panel being receivable between the male and female jaw portions. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the door assembly further comprises a securing means for fixedly securing the male and female jaw portions together once the rotatable panel is received therebetween. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the securing means comprises a bolt, the female jaw portion comprises an opening for receiving the bolt therein, the bolt abutting against the male jaw portion when inserted into the opening for fixedly securing the rotatable panel between the male and female jaw portions. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the door assembly further comprises a first anti-skid body to be installed between the male jaw portion and the rotatable panel and a second anti-skid body to be installed between the female jaw portion and the rotatable panel. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the rotatable and slidable panels are made of glass. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the bathing enclosure is a shower enclosure. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the bathing enclosure is a bathtub enclosure. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the wall is a bathroom wall. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the wall is part of the frame. 
         [0024]    According to another broad aspect, there is provided a door assembly for one of a tub and a shower, comprising: a frame; a first door panel; a rotatable connector securable to a wall and secured to the first door panel for allowing a rotation of the first door panel relative to the wall; a second door panel; a sliding member secured to the frame and operatively connected to the second door panel for allowing a sliding motion of the second door panel along the frame; a first guide member secured to the first door panel; and a second guide member secured to the second door panel and operatively connected to the first guide member for triggering the rotation of the first door panel upon sliding of the second door panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a drawing showing a rear elevation view of a door assembly for a bathing enclosure, in accordance with one embodiment, with the door assembly in a closed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1A  is a drawing showing an enlarged view of the door assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the fixed panel exploded from the door panel to show the pin on the door panel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a drawing showing a top view of the door assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 2A  is a drawing showing a top cross-section view of the door assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 , taken along cross-section line A-A. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2B  is a drawing showing an top view of the door assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 , enlarged to show details of the four-bar link connection. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a drawing showing a rear elevation view of the door assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the door assembly in an open position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 3A  is a drawing showing a top cross-section view of the door assembly illustrated in  FIG. 3 , taken along cross-section line B-B. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a drawing illustrating a door assembly comprising a slidable door panel and a rotatable door panel when in a closed position, in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a drawing showing a bottom perspective view of the door assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating the door assembly of  FIG. 4  when in intermediary between a closed position and an open position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a drawing showing a bottom perspective view of the door assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating the door assembly of  FIG. 4  when in an open position. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a drawing showing a bottom perspective view of the door assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a drawing showing a bottom perspective view of a rotatable connection assembly for connecting a door panel to a support structure such as a wall, in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a drawing showing a cross-sectional view of the rotatable connection of  FIG. 10 , taken along cross-section line XI-XI. 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a drawing showing a door assembly comprising two slidable door panels and two rotatable door panels, in accordance with an embodiment and in a closed position. 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  is a drawing showing the door assembly of  FIG. 12  in an open position. 
       
    
    
       [0042]    Further details of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the detailed description included below. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    In the following description of the embodiments, references to the accompanying drawings are by way of illustration of an example by which the invention may be practiced. It will be understood that other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. 
         [0044]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1 to 2B , there is provided a door assembly  100  for a shower enclosure, not shown. In the accompanying drawings, the door assembly  100  is shown from a front or exterior view, such that  FIG. 1  shows the door assembly  100  as would be seen from a viewer standing outside the shower enclosure. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 1 and 2  shows the door assembly  100  in a closed position. The door assembly  100  includes a door panel  102  and a fixed panel  104 . When in the closed position, the door panel  102  is substantially parallel to the fixed panel  104 . In this position, the door panel  102  and the fixed panel  104  extends within a first vertical plane V 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 2A . In the closed position, the door panel  102  is located adjacent the fixed panel  104  and does not overlap the fixed panel  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the door panel  102  includes a roller assembly  106  adapted to engage a rail member, not shown, which extends along the first vertical plane V 1  and which optionally limits movement of the door panel  102  to movement along the first vertical plane V 1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0046]    When the door assembly  100  is opened, the door panel  102  moves from the closed position towards the open position, where the door panel  102  overlaps the door assembly  100 . More specifically, when the door panel  102  is moved to the open position, it moves linearly within the first vertical plane V 1  towards the fixed panel  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A . 
         [0047]    As it moves along the first vertical plane V 1 , the fixed panel  104  also moves transversely relative to the first vertical plane V 1 , away from the first vertical plane V 1  and into a second vertical plane V 2  which is parallel to and spaced from the first vertical plane V 1 . As a result, the fixed panel is always substantially parallel to the first vertical plane V 1  while moving from the door panel  102  is moved from its closed position to its open position and vice-versa. 
         [0048]    In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed panel  104  includes a first guide member  108  and the door panel  102  includes a second guide member  110 , the first and second guide members  108 ,  110  forming together a guiding assembly  112 . Still in the illustrated embodiment, the first guide member  108  includes an elongated guiding groove  114  having a first end  116  located towards the door panel  102  and a second end  118  located away from the door panel  102 . The second guide member  110  includes a pin  120  which extends upwardly from the door panel  112  and is sized and shaped to be received in the guiding groove  114 . 
         [0049]    In the illustrated embodiment, the guiding groove  114  is adapted to guide the door panel  102  along a non-linear path of travel as it moves between the open and closed positions. More specifically, the guiding groove  114  includes a first straight portion  122  which is disposed at an angle relative to the first vertical plane V 1  and a second straight portion  124  which is disposed parallel to the first vertical plane V 1  and at an angle relative to the first straight portion  122 . The first straight portion  122  is located near the first end  116  of the guiding groove  114 , and the second straight portion  124  is located near the second end  118  of the guiding groove  114 . 
         [0050]    In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed panel  104  is attached to a shower wall, not shown, via at least one parallelogram link or four-bar link connection  126 . The four-bar link connection  126  allows the fixed panel  104  to move transversely to the first vertical plane V 1  while remaining parallel to the first vertical plane V 1 . Specifically, the four-bar link connection  126  includes a first bracket  128  adapted to be secured to a wall, a second bracket  130  disposed opposite the first bracket  128  and a pair of parallel link members  132 ,  134  connecting the first bracket  128  to the second bracket  130  via four pivots  136   a ,  136   b ,  136   c ,  136   d.    
         [0051]    When the door assembly  100  is in the closed position, the pin  120  is located at the first end  116  of the guiding groove  114  and the door panel  102  is adjacent the fixed panel  104 , without overlapping the fixed panel  104 . In this position, both the door panel  102  and the fixed panel  104  are disposed in the first vertical plane V 1 . When the door assembly  100  is moved to the open position to thereby allow access into the shower enclosure, the door panel  102  is pushed edgewise towards the fixed panel  104 . Since the roller assembly  106  engages the rail member as described above, the door panel  102  may only move along the first vertical plane V 1  and cannot move transversely away from the first vertical plane V 1 . As the door panel  102  moves towards the open position, the pin  120  moves along the guiding groove  114  towards the second end  118 . The pin  120  therefore first moves through the first straight portion  122  of the guiding groove  114 , and through the second straight portion  124 . 
         [0052]    As the pin  120  moves through the first straight portion  122 , it forces the fixed panel  102  away from the first vertical plane V 1  and towards the second vertical plane V 2 . Once the pin  120  has passed through the first straight portion  122 , it moves through the second straight portion  124 , which enables the door panel  102  to move towards the closed position, shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A . 
         [0053]    Alternatively, the guiding groove  114  could be curved, or have any other shape which would enable the door panel  102  to move both out of the first vertical plane V 1  and into the second vertical plane V 2 , and towards the fixed panel  104 . 
         [0054]    In the illustrated embodiment, the door assembly  100  further includes a pivoting panel  150  located adjacent the door panel  102 . When in a closed state, the pivoting panel  150  is disposed generally in the first vertical plane V 1  and pivots so that it becomes angled from the first vertical plane V 1  when the pivoting panel  150  is opened. Alternatively, the door assembly  100  may not comprise a pivoting panel. 
         [0055]    While in the above description, the fixed panel remains parallel to the plane V 1  while moving from its closed position to its open position, there is described another embodiment in which the fixed panel rotates relative to the plane V 1  in which the door panel slides. 
         [0056]    In the below described embodiment, a first panel is rotatably secured to a reference surface such as a wall of a bathroom, a wall of the shower enclosure, or the like and a second panel is slidable between a closed position and an open position. When it is in the closed position, the second panel is adjacent to the first panel and does not overlap with the first panel. When it is in the open position, the second panel overlaps with the first panel. It should be understood that the second panel may take a plurality of positions between the open and closed positions. When the second panel is in the open position, the first panel is substantially parallel to the second panel. When the second panel is in the closed position, the first panel is angled relative to the second panel. 
         [0057]    When assembled, the second panel may slide linearly within a fixed vertical plane usually along an axis which is parallel to the ground. Sliding the second panel triggers the rotation of the first panel so that the first and second panel be substantially parallel together when the second panel is in the open position and the plane in which the first panel extends intersects that in which the second panel extends. 
         [0058]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a door assembly  200  for a shower enclosure, not shown. The door assembly  200  comprises a first rotatable door panel  202 , a second slidable door panel  204  and a third optional door panel  206 . The first panel  202  is rotatably secured to a shower wall or a bathroom wall while the second panel  204  is slidably secured to the shower enclosure. The third optional panel  206  may be fixed relative to the shower enclosure or be rotatably secured to a further shower wall as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The first panel  202  extends longitudinally between a bottom end  208  and a top end  210  and transversally between a first end  212  and a second end  214 . The second panel  204  extends longitudinally between a bottom end  216  and a top end  218  and transversally between a first end  220  and a second end  222 . 
         [0059]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the door assembly  200  is in a closed position/configuration. In this configuration, the first panel  202  is adjacent to the second panel  204  so that there is no overlap between the two. More precisely, the end  214  of the first panel  202  is adjacent to the end  220  of the second panel  204 . In one embodiment, the ends  214  and  220  may be spaced apart so as to not be in physical contact when the door assembly  200  is in the closed position. In another embodiment, the ends  214  and  220  may abut one another so as to be in physical contact when the door assembly  200  is in the closed position. Furthermore, when in the closed configuration, the first and second panel  202  and  204  are not parallel to one another. 
         [0060]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the end  212  of the first panel  202  is rotatably secured to a shower wall via a rotatable connection assembly  230 . The second panel  204  is slidably secured to the shower assembly or frame and includes a roller assembly such as roller assembly  106  adapted to engage a rail member, not shown. The roller assembly allows a sliding motion of the second panel  204  and may optionally limit movement of the second panel  204 . 
         [0061]    The first panel  202  also comprises a first guide member  232  such as guide member  108  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 2A  while the second panel  204  comprises a second guide member  234  such as guide member  110  also illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 2A . The guide members  232  and  234  form together a guiding assembly  240  which allows a predetermined relative motion between the panels  202  and  204 . 
         [0062]    Still in the illustrated embodiment, the first guide member  232  includes an elongated guiding groove, such as groove  114 , having a first end located towards the door panel  204  and a second end located away from the second panel  204 . The second guide member  234  includes a pin, such as pin  120 , which extends upwardly from the first panel  202  and is sized and shaped to be received in the guiding groove of the first guide member  232 . 
         [0063]    The guiding groove of the first guide member  232  is adapted to guide the first panel  202  along a non-linear path of travel as it moves between the open and closed positions. More specifically, the guiding groove of the first guide member  232  includes a first straight portion, such as portion  122 , which is disposed at an angle relative to the plane in which the second panel  204  extends, and a second straight portion, such as portion  124 . 
         [0064]    When the door assembly  200  is in the closed position, the pin of the second guide member  234  is located at the first end of the guiding groove of the first guide member  232  and the second panel  204  is adjacent the first panel  202 , without overlapping the first panel  202 . In this position, both the first and second panels  202  and  204  may be parallel to one another. When the door assembly  200  is moved to the open position to thereby allow access into the shower, the door panel  204  is slid towards the first panel  202 . Since the roller assembly engages the rail member as described above, the second panel  204  may only move linearly within the plane in which it extends and cannot move transversely. As the second panel  204  moves towards the open position, the pin of the second guide member  234  moves along the guiding groove of the first guide member  232  towards the second end thereof, and the motion of the pin along the guiding grove forces the rotation of the first panel  202 . 
         [0065]    When the door assembly  200  is in the closed position, the first panel  202  extends within a first panel plane and the second panel  204  extends within a second panel plane which intersects the first panel plane at a first non-zero angle so that the two panel planes in which the first and second panels  202  and  204  extend are not parallel to one another. 
         [0066]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the door assembly  200  in an intermediary position/configuration while the second panel  204  is moved from its closed position to its open position. By moving the second panel  204  towards the end  212  of the first panel  202 , the second panel  204  slides within the second panel plane along the guiding structure  240 . The motion of the second panel  240  triggers the rotation of the first panel  202  due to the interaction between the guide members  232  and  234  as described above. While the second panel  204  slides from the closed position towards the open position, the panel  202  rotates inwardly towards the interior space defined by the shower assembly so that the value of the angle between the first and second panels  202  and  204  decreases while still being greater than zero. In the intermediary position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , part of the second panel  204  overlaps with a portion of the first panel  202  and the second panel  204  is located partially in front of the first panel  202  while looking at the door assembly  200  from the exterior of the shower assembly. 
         [0067]    By further moving the second panel  204 , the door assembly  200  reaches the open position illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The motion of the second panel  204  triggers a further rotation of the first panel  202  relative to the shower wall. A greater portion of the second panel  204  then overlaps with the first panel  202  and the first panel  202  is disposed within a third panel plane which is substantially parallel to the second panel plane so that the angle between the panels  202  and  204  be substantially equal to zero. In this position, the opening of the shower is maximal to allow a user entering or exiting the shower enclosure. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an exemplary embodiment for the rotatable connection assembly  230  which allows rotatably securing the first panel  202  to the shower wall (not shown). While in the illustrated embodiment the connection assembly  230  extends along the entire vertical length of the first panel  202 , it should be understood that other configurations may be possible. For example, the connection assembly  230  may only extend along a portion of the length of the first panel  202 . In another embodiment, the door assembly  200  may comprise two or more connection assemblies  230  each located at a different location along the length of the first panel  202  and each extending along a portion of the length of the first panel  202 . 
         [0069]    The connection assembly  230  comprises a male or wall securing body  240  and a female or panel securing body  242 . The female body  242  is adapted to be fixedly secured to the panel  202  and the male body  240  is adapted to be fixedly secured to the shower wall while the female body  242  is rotatably secured to the male body  240  to allow the rotation of the panel  202  relative to the shower wall about a vertical rotation axis. 
         [0070]    The male body  240  comprises a plate  244 , a cylindrical portion  246  and a neck portion  248  therebetween. The plate  244  extends along a given length such as the same length as that of the panel  202 , a length that is shorter than that of the panel  202  or a length that is longer than that of the panel  202 . The plate  244  is adapted to be fixedly secured to the shower wall or the bathroom wall. For example, the plate  244  may comprise at least one hole extending therethrough for receiving a screw  251  therethrough in order to secure the plate  244  to the shower wall as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The cylindrical portion  246  extends along the length of the plate  244  and has a substantially circular cross-section. The cylindrical portion  246  is connected to the plate  244  via the neck portion  248  which has a width which is less that the diameter of the cylindrical portion  246 . 
         [0071]    The female body  242  comprises a male jaw portion  250  and a female jaw portion  252  rotatably secured together. The male and female jaw portions  250  and  252  are adapted to receive the panel  202  therebetween so that the panel  202  be fixedly secured between the male and female jaw portions  250  and  252 . The male jaw portion  250  comprises a substantially U-shaped plate  264  formed of a cylinder receiving plate  256 , a first arm  258  and a second arm  260 . The cylinder receiving plate  256  has a width which is greater than that of the panel  202  and extends along at least a portion of the length of the panel  202 . 
         [0072]    The cylinder receiving plate  256  comprises a substantially cylindrical aperture or recess  262  which extends on a face thereof that faces the plate  244  of the male body  240 . The diameter of the aperture  262  substantially corresponds to that of the cylindrical portion  246  so that the cylindrical portion  246  be inserted into the aperture  262  and the male jaw portion  250  be rotated about the cylindrical portion  246 . While in the illustrated embodiment, the aperture is located adjacent to an end of the plate  256 , it should be understood that the aperture  262  may be located at any other adequate location along the width of the plate  256 . 
         [0073]    The first arm  258  projects substantially orthogonally from the plate  256  at an end opposite thereof opposite to the aperture  262  and in a direction opposite to the male body  240 . In one embodiment, the face of the arm  258  that faces the second arm  260  is adapted to be in direct physical contact with the panel  202 . In another embodiment, the connection assembly  230  further comprises an anti-skid or non-slip body  263  to be positioned between the first arm  258  and the panel  202 . The anti-skid body  263  is used for protecting the panel  202  when the first arm  258  is pushed against the panel  202  and for preventing any relative motion between the first arm  258  and the panel  202 . For example, the anti-skid body  262  may be made of rubber. It should be understood that any adequate method for removably or permanently secure the anti-skid body  263  to the first arm  258  may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the first arm  258  comprises a recess  264  on its face facing the panel  202  and the anti-skid body  263  comprises a protrusion  266  that matches the recess  264  for insertion therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess  264  and the protrusion  266  each have a matching isosceles trapezoidal shape. In one embodiment, the recess  264  is terminated by a wall at its bottom end to maintain the anti-skid body  263  into position. 
         [0074]    In one embodiment, the anti-skid  263  is terminated by a substantially triangular section  268  to prevent water from propagating between the anti-skid body  263  and the first arm  258 . 
         [0075]    The second arm  260  extends from the plate  256  from a face that is opposite to the aperture  262  in the direction opposite to the male body  240 . The second arm comprises a first section  270  which is substantially parallel to the first arm  258 , a second section which extends away from the first arm  258  and a cylindrical section  274  which extends from the second section  272 . The cylindrical section  274  allows the female jaw portion  252  rotating relative to the male jaw portion  250 . 
         [0076]    The female jaw portion  252  comprises a substantially curved plate  276  having an inward face that faces the male jaw portion  250 . The inward face comprises a first planar section  278  that faces the plate  256  of the male jaw portion  250  and a cylindrical recess  280  for receiving the cylindrical section  274  of the male jaw portion  250 . The plate  276  further comprises a hole extending through the first planar section  278  and designed to receive a bolt  292  therethrough. 
         [0077]    In one embodiment, the end  282  of the plate  276  is adapted to be in direct physical contact with the panel  202 . In another embodiment, the connection assembly  230  further comprises a second anti-skid or non-slip body  284  to be positioned between the end  282  of the plate  276  and the panel  202 . The anti-skid body  284  is used for protecting the panel  202  when the plate  276  is pushed against the panel  202  and for preventing any relative motion between the plate  276  and the panel  202 . For example, the anti-skid body  284  may be made of rubber. It should be understood that any adequate method for removably or permanently secure the anti-skid body  284  to the plate  276  may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the end  282  of the plate  276  comprises a recess  286  and the anti-skid body  284  comprises a protrusion  288  designed to be inserted into the recess  286 . In the illustrated embodiment, the recess  286  and the protrusion  288  each have an isosceles trapezoidal shape. In one embodiment, the recess  286  is terminated by a wall at its bottom end to maintain the anti-skid body  284  into position. 
         [0078]    In one embodiment, the anti-skid  284  is terminated by a substantially triangular section  290  to prevent water from propagating between the anti-skid body  284  and the plate  276 . 
         [0079]    In order to rotatably secure the panel  202  to a wall (not shown), the male body  240  of the connection assembly  230  is screwed to the wall by screwing screws  251  through holes extending through the plate  244 . Then the male jaw portion  250  is rotatably secured to the male body  240  by inserting the cylindrical portion  246  of the male body  240  into the recess  262  of the male jaw portion  250  and sliding the male jaw portion relative along the cylindrical portion  246  optionally until the cylindrical portion  246  abuts a wall located at the bottom end of the recess  262 . Then the female jaw portion  252  is rotatably secured to the male jaw portion  250  by inserting the cylindrical section into the recess  280  and sliding the female jaw portion  252  along the recess  280  until it abuts against a wall terminating the recess  280  at the bottom end thereof. 
         [0080]    Then the panel  202  is inserted between the male and female jaw portions  250  and  252 . In an embodiment in which the connection assembly  230  comprises the first and second anti-skid bodies  263  and  284 , the anti-skid body  263  is inserted between the male jaw portion  250  and the panel  202  and the anti-skid body  284  is inserted between the female jaw portion  252  and the panel  202 . 
         [0081]    The bolt  292  is then screwed in the hole extending through the first planar section  278 . The bolt  292  is screwed until it abuts against the part of the male jaw portion  250  that faces the aperture  262 . Further screwing the bolt  292  then triggers the rotation of the female jaw portion  252  relative to the first male jaw portion  250  and allows firmly abutting the end  282  of the plate  276  against the panel  202 , thereby securing the panel  202  between the male and female jaw portions  205  and  252 . 
         [0082]    In one embodiment, the connection assembly  230  is provided with a plurality of bolts  292  positioned along the length of the female jaw portion  252 . 
         [0083]    It should be understood that the order of the above-described steps for rotatably securing the panel  202  to a wall may be changed. For example, the female jaw portion  252  may first be rotatably secured to the male jaw portion  250 , then the male jaw portion may be rotatably secured to the male body  240  before securing the male body  240  to the wall. 
         [0084]    While the door assembly  200  comprises a single slidable panel  204 , it should be understood that a door assembly may comprise more than one slidable panel. For example,  FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrates a door assembly  300  in a closed position and an open position, respectively. The door assembly  300  comprises two slidable panels  302  and  304  and two rotatable panels  306  and  308  which are rotatably secured to opposite walls of a shower assembly. Each panel  306  and  308  is provided with a guide member  232  and each panel  302  and  304  is provided with a guide member  234 . As a result, sliding the panel  302  towards the panel  306  triggers the rotation of the panel  306  and sliding the panel  304  towards the panel  308  triggers the rotation of the panel  308 . 
         [0085]    It should be understood that the rotatable connection assembly  230  is exemplary only and that any adequate rotatable connection allowing securing the panel  202  to a wall may be used.