Collapsible shower cubicle

A collapsible shower cubicle (1) comprises a ceiling unit (23), a base unit (24), and a linking mechanism (40). The ceiling unit (23) is rotatable about an upper axis (9) between a raised extended position and a lowered retracted position, the ceiling unit (23) substantially extending horizontally from the upper axis (9) when the ceiling unit (23) is in its extended position. The base unit (37) is rotatable about a lower axis (10) between a lowered extended position and a raised retracted position, the base unit (37) substantially extending horizontally from the lower axis (10) when the base unit (37) is in its extended position. The linking mechanism connects the ceiling unit to the base unit. The linking mechanism (40) is configured to coordinate simultaneous rotation of the ceiling unit (23) and the base unit (37) between their retracted and extended positions and is configured such that the raising of the weight of the base unit (37) is counterbalanced by the lowering of the weight of the ceiling unit (23), and the lowering of the weight of the base unit (37) is counterbalanced by the raising of the weight of the ceiling unit (23).

The present invention relates to a shower cubicle which is collapsible.

A conventional shower cubicle is a rigid structure that takes up some space in the room that it is situated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower cubicle which can be collapsed when not in use to save space.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible shower cubicle comprising: a ceiling unit rotatable about an upper axis between a raised extended position and a lowered retracted position, the ceiling unit substantially extending horizontally from the upper axis when the ceiling unit is in its extended position; a base unit rotatable about a lower axis between a lowered extended position and a raised retracted position, the base unit substantially extending horizontally from the lower axis when the base unit is in its extended position; and a linking mechanism connecting the ceiling unit to the base unit and configured to coordinate simultaneous rotation of the ceiling unit and the base unit between their retracted and extended positions and configured such that the raising of the weight of the base unit is counterbalanced by the lowering of the weight of the ceiling unit, and the lowering of the weight of the base unit is counterbalanced by the raising of the weight of the ceiling unit. The counterbalancing enables the shower cubicle to be collapsed or erected with little force.

The collapsible shower cubicle may include a drive mechanism for driving the linking mechanism to selectively rotate the ceiling unit and the base unit towards each other from their extended positions or to rotate the ceiling unit and the base unit away from each other from their retracted positions. Since little force is required to collapse or erect the shower cubicle, a low power motor may be used to drive the linking mechanism.

The ceiling unit may include a ceiling panel rotatable about the upper axis. The ceiling unit may include a ceiling link fixed to the ceiling panel and rotatable with the ceiling panel.

The base unit may include a base panel rotatable about the lower axis. The base unit may include a base link fixed to the base panel and rotatable with the base panel.

The collapsible shower cubicle may include an upper link member pivotably attached directly or indirectly to the ceiling panel of the ceiling unit, a lower link member pivotably attached directly or indirectly to the base panel of the base unit, a door frame pivotably attached to the upper and lower link members, and a door connected to the door frame for entry into the collapsible shower cubicle. When the ceiling unit is rotated from the raised extended position to the lowered retracted position and the base unit is rotated from the lowered extended position to the raised retracted position, the door frame may be translated towards the upper and lower axes, and when the ceiling unit is rotated from the lowered retracted position to the raised extended position and the base unit is rotated from the raised retracted position to the lowered extended position, the door frame may be translated away from the upper and lower axes.

The door and the door frame may each have at least one magnet for interacting with each other to dampen movement of the door relative to the door frame.

The collapsible shower cubicle may include a ceiling linkage configured to rotate the upper link member relative to the ceiling panel. The ceiling linkage may connect the upper link member to a ceiling shaft coaxial with the upper axis. The collapsible shower cubicle may include a base linkage configured to rotate the lower link member relative to the base panel. The base linkage may connect the lower link member to a base shaft coaxial with the lower axis.

The linking mechanism may connect the ceiling unit to the base unit about the upper and lower axes. The linking mechanism may comprise a belt or chain or any other suitable means in a figure-of-eight configuration connecting the ceiling unit to the base unit and extending around the upper and lower axes. The belt or chain may extend around an upper wheel rotatable about the upper axis and may extend around a lower wheel rotatable about the lower axis, the ceiling unit being fixed to the upper wheel and the base unit being fixed to the lower wheel. The wheel may be a gear wheel or a pulley wheel.

A method may be provided for erecting or collapsing the shower cubicle which comprises rotating the ceiling and base units between extended position and retracted positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible shower cubicle comprising: a pair of side panels movable between extended positions and retracted positions; a ceiling unit movable between a raised extended position and a lowered retracted position; a base unit movable between a lowered extended position and a raised retracted position; an upper link member pivotably attached to the ceiling unit; a lower link member pivotably attached to the base unit, and a door frame pivotably attached to the upper and lower link members, and a door connected to the door frame for entry into the collapsible shower cubicle, wherein the shower cubicle is in an erected state when the side panels; the ceiling unit and the base unit are in their extended positions, and the shower cubicle is in a collapsed state when the side panels, the ceiling unit and the base unit are in their retracted positions, and wherein when the collapsible shower cubicle is moved from its erected state to its collapsed state, the side panels are moved towards their retracted positions before the base unit is moved to its retracted position. By the shower cubicle having the door frame, a stable entrance into the cubicle is provided when the cubicle is in its erected state. By the side panels being moved towards their retracted positions before the base unit is moved to its retracted position, drips from the side panels are caught by the base unit before the base unit is raised to its retracted position.

The base unit may include a floor panel that is rotated from a lowered extended position to a raised retracted position. The floor panel in its raised retracted position may cover at least a portion of the side panels in their retracted positions. The floor panel may have a pair of shoulders and wherein each side panel may be adjacent a respective said shoulder when the side panels and the base unit are in their extended positions, the side panels being between the shoulders.

The collapsible shower cubicle may include a drain for collecting water from the floor panel as it is being rotated from its extended position to its retracted position.

A method may be provided for erecting or collapsing the shower cubicle.

Referring toFIGS.1to22of the accompanying drawings, a collapsible shower cubicle1according to an embodiment of the invention is mounted in a recess2in a wall3. The collapsible shower cubicle1has a mounting frame4mounted in the recess2. The mounting frame4includes a seal frame5.

The mounting frame4has a pair of columns6(seeFIG.15) between which are mounted upper and lower shafts7,8wherein the upper or ceiling shaft7is coaxial with an upper axis9and the lower or base shaft8is coaxial with a lower axis10. The upper and lower shafts7,8are fixed. A pair of upper gear wheels11is rotatable about the upper shaft7and a pair of lower gear wheels12is rotatable about the lower shaft8. Each column6contains one of the upper gear wheels11and one of the lower gear wheels12.

An upper cylinder13extends from each upper gear wheel11around the upper shaft7and protrudes through the column6in the direction of the other cylinder. A first end of a ceiling link arm14is attached to a distal end of each upper cylinder13which is just beyond the column6. An opposite second end of the ceiling link arm14is connected by a link pivot connection15to a first end of an upper link member16. The link pivot connection15comprises an upper link shaft17that extends between the pair of ceiling link arms14, and the upper link shaft17is rotatably mounted in the pair of ceiling link arms14. The first end of the upper link member16is fixed to the upper link shaft17, and an opposite second end of the upper link member16is connected by a pivot connection18to an upper extension19extending from a rear of an upper part of a door or picture frame20. The two ceiling link arms14are connected to each other by a tube63through which the upper shaft7extends. A ceiling panel21is fixed to the pair of ceiling link arms14and extends along the length of the ceiling link arms14and beyond in a direction away from the upper shaft7. The edges22of the ceiling panel21parallel to the ceiling link arms14extend downwardly from the main part of the ceiling panel21. The pair of ceiling link arms14and the ceiling panel21form a ceiling unit23. Each ceiling link arm14has a seal24extending from a top side away from the ceiling panel21to an outer side away from the other ceiling link arm and down to the ceiling panel21. A shower head and lighting (not shown) are connected to the ceiling panel21.

A lower cylinder25extends from each lower gear wheel12around the lower shaft8and protrudes through the column6in the direction of the other cylinder. A first end of a base link arm26is attached to a distal end of each lower cylinder25which is just beyond the column6. An opposite second end of the base link arm26is connected by a link pivot connection27to a first end of a lower link member28. The link pivot connection27comprises a lower link shaft29that extends between the pair of base link arms26, and the lower link shaft29is rotatably mounted in the pair of base link arms26. The first end of the lower link member28is fixed to the lower link shaft29, and an opposite second end of the lower link member28is connected by a pivot connection30to a lower extension31extending from a rear of a lower part of the door frame20. A drip tray32(seeFIG.13) is attached to the door frame20beneath the pivot connection30, and the drip tray32has a spring operated valve33. The two base link arms26are connected to each other by a tube64through which the lower shaft8extends. A floor panel or plate34is fixed to the pair of base link arms26and extends along the length of the base link arms26and beyond in a direction away from the lower shaft8. The floor panel34has a pair of shoulders or upstands35wherein each shoulder35extends along an edge of the floor panel34parallel to the base link arms26. The floor panel34may include a glass infill36between the shoulders35. The pair of base link arms26and the floor panel34form a base unit37. Each base link arm26has a seal38extending from an underside away from the floor panel34to an outer side away from the other base link arm and up to the floor panel34.

Each of the lower link members28has a leg38pivotably connected to it. A rod39is pivotably connected to the leg38and to the door frame20.

Inside each column6, a chain40in a figure-of-eight configuration extends around the upper and lower gear wheels11,12. The chain40forms a linking mechanism connecting the ceiling unit23to the base unit37. Each chain40is arranged to be driven by a drive motor41which rotates a drive shaft42on which are mounted a pair of coaxial drive gears43which engage the chain40.

Inside the first end of each ceiling link arm14is a gear wheel44mounted around and fixed to the upper shaft7. Inside the second end of each ceiling link arm14is a gear wheel45mounted around and fixed to the upper link shaft17, and a chain46extends around the upper shaft gear wheel44and the upper link shaft gear wheel45. A ceiling linkage47comprises the upper shaft gear wheel44, the upper link shaft gear wheel45and the chain46extending around them.

Inside the first end of each base link arm26is a gear wheel48mounted around and fixed to the lower shaft8. Inside the second end of each base link arm26is a gear wheel49mounted around and fixed to the base link shaft29, and a chain50extends around the lower shaft gear wheel48and the lower link shaft gear wheel49. A base linkage72comprises the lower shaft gear wheel48, the lower link shaft gear wheel49and the chain50extending around them.

A pair of vertical shafts51,52(seeFIG.3) is rotatably mounted in the mounting frame4of the collapsible shower cubicle1. A first end portion of a first side panel53is fixed to a first one51of the two vertical shafts and a first end portion of a second side panel54is fixed to a second one52of the two vertical shafts. A distal end of each side panel53,54extends away from its respective shaft51,52. The second shaft52is located slightly further away from a rear of the mounting frame4than the first shaft51and has a notch or groove55(seeFIG.6) running vertically along it. The side panels53,54may be rotated by motors71(seeFIG.19) between retracted and extended positions.

A drain56(seeFIG.12) is located in the bottom of the mounting frame4for draining water from the shower cubicle1. The drain56has a float sensor57to prevent flooding if water is not draining properly from the shower cubicle1.

A door58(seeFIGS.3to5) is connected to the door frame20by a vertical door shaft or hinge59and the door58also has an external door handle60. The door frame20has magnets61which interact with magnets62on the door handle60and on the vertical door shaft59to dampen movement of the door58relative to the door frame20. The magnets can act as a door stop. The door frame20also has an annular seal74around the frame20for engaging the seal frame5.

Above the mounting frame4are a pair of housings65(seeFIG.20) each containing an inline extractor fan66and having a flexible pipe67extending from the housing65. Also above the mounting frame4is a pump68(seeFIG.19) for the shower head, tanks69, solenoids70and other electrical equipment73for the shower cubicle1wherein the solenoids70and other electrical equipment73is contained within a waterproof area. The collapsible shower cubicle1may have a touch screen control panel to operate it. The control panel may be connected to an electronic processor which is connected to the motors41,71, sensor57, motors for fans66, and other sensors.

Referring to particularly toFIGS.2and23to27, when the shower cubicle1is in an erected state (seeFIG.23), the ceiling unit23extends horizontally from the upper axis9in a raised extended position beyond the seal frame5, and the base unit37extends horizontally from the lower axis10in a lowered extended position beyond the seal frame5. The side panels53,54are in their extended positions and are inside the downwardly extending edges22of the ceiling panel21and the shoulders35of the floor panel34, and each side panel53,55is adjacent a respective downwardly extending edge22, and adjacent a respective shoulder35. A person can enter the erected shower cubicle1via the door58.

To collapse the shower cubicle1, the first side panel53is rotated through 90° from its extended position to a retracted position wherein the side panel53is in the mounting frame4within the wall recess2, and the second side panel54is then rotated (seeFIG.24) through 90° from its extended position to a retracted position so that it overlaps the first side panel53(seeFIG.25). The drive motors41are then activated to drive the chains40of the linking mechanisms and rotate the upper and lower gear wheels11,12. This coordinates simultaneous rotation (seeFIG.26) of the ceiling unit23and the base unit37from their respective raised and lowered extended positions to respective lowered and raised retracted positions wherein the raising of the weight of the base unit37is counterbalanced by the lowering of the weight of the ceiling unit23. As the base unit37is being raised, any water on the floor panel34drains into the drain56. Also, as the ceiling unit23is being lowered and the base unit37is being raised, each ceiling link arm chain46around its respective upper shaft gear wheel44causes the upper link shaft gear wheel45to rotate the upper link arm16and each base link arm chain50around its respective lower shaft gear wheel48causes the lower link shaft gear wheel49to rotate the lower link arm28. Thus, the door frame20is translated towards the upper and lower axes9,10until it engages the mounting frame5with its seal74forming a seal with the mounting frame5. The translation of the door frame20causes the drip tray spring valve33to engage the mounting frame4and consequently be opened so that any water in the drip tray32can be released from the tray32and drained from the shower cubicle1via the drain56. When the ceiling unit23and the base unit37are in their respective lowered and raised retracted positions (seeFIG.27) they cover the side panels53,54in their retracted positions. The second side panel54in its retracted position has the notch55in its vertical shaft52positioned to receive portions of the ceiling and base units23,37in their retracted positions. The shower cubicle1in its collapsed state has a smart, slim appearance.

To erect the shower cubicle1, the drive motors41are activated to drive the chains40of the linking mechanisms in the opposite direction so that the ceiling unit23and the base unit37are simultaneously rotated from their respective lowered and raised retracted positions to their respective raised and lowered extended positions wherein the lowering of the weight of the base unit37is counterbalanced by the raising of the weight of the ceiling unit23. As the ceiling unit23is being raised and the base unit37is being lowered, each ceiling link arm chain.46around its respective upper shaft gear wheel44causes the upper link shaft gear wheel45to rotate the upper link arm16and each base link arm chain50around its respective lower shaft gear wheel48causes the lower link shaft gear wheel49to rotate the lower link arm28so that the door frame20is translated away from the upper and lower axes9,10. As the base unit37is being lowered, the leg38on each lower link member28is retained in an upright stance by virtue of the rod39pivotably connected to it and to the door frame20, and the legs38provide support for the shower cubicle1in its erected state. When the ceiling unit23is raised to its extended position and the base unit37is lowered to its extended position, a distal end of the ceiling panel21forms a seal75(seeFIG.10) with the door frame20and a distal end of the floor panel34forms a seal76(seeFIG.13) with the door frame20. Also, a seal is formed between the seals24of the ceiling link arms14and the sealing frame5(seeFIGS.6and9) and between the seals38of the base link arms26and the sealing frame5(seeFIG.12).

The second and the first side panels54,53are rotated through 90° from their retracted positions to their extended positions. When the side panels53,54are in their extended positions, a seal is formed between the side panels53,54and the downwardly extending edges22of the ceiling panel21and a seal77(seeFIG.18) is also formed between the side panels53,54and the shoulders35of the floor panel34. The distal ends of the side panels53,54form a seal78(seeFIG.16) with the door frame20.

The seals between the ceiling unit23and the base unit37and the seal frame5and door frame20, and the seals between the side panels53,54and the ceiling unit23and the base unit24and the door frame20are waterproof and may be magnetic.

The shower cubicle1may be a folding or collapsible shower cubicle that may be fully automated. The shower cubicle1may be integrated into a wall.

In a specific example of a preferred embodiment, the drive motor41is a low voltage and wattage DC motor. Due to the counterbalancing mentioned previously, such a low powered motor41can be used to extend or retract the ceiling and base units23,37of the shower cubicle1when the shower cubicle1is being erected or collapsed. The shower cubicle1can be fitted to a recess2only 175 mm deep in a wall3. The side panels53,54may comprise toughened glass which may be 6 mm thick. The door58may comprise toughened glass.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

The linking mechanism comprising a chain40in a figure-of-eight configuration extending around the upper and lower gear wheels11,12may be instead replaced by a system of gears and/or rods wherein at least one of the gears may be coaxial with at least one of the rods.

The shower cubicle1may include a sprinkler to clean the side panels53,54when they are in their retracted positions. The door58may comprise a see through mirror that can be seen through from inside the shower cubicle1. The shower cubicle1may include speakers for playing music inside the cubicle1.