IMPROVED SHOWER PLATE

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved shower plate consisting of a base defining a chute (1) extending in the form of a border according to the contour of the shower and serving as a support for a flat plate (6) that is supported on the top edge of the inner walls of the chute (1) and that covers the base up to the proximity of the outer walls of the above-mentioned chute (1), said flat plate leaving a free opening (7) along the contour relative to said walls.

Description: In a conventional way, showers are determined with a base plate, in which the used water from the shower is picked up, for its evacuation through a drainpipe drain defined in the plate itself and which is connected through a siphon with the corresponding drainage canalization. This shower plate is usually of ceramic material, formed as a tray which is situated fixedly assured by masonry work, even matched with the wall tiles and the floor tiles of the enclosure. This disposition supposes that the drain sump has some reduced dimensions which makes that obstruction easily takes place with the inconveniences this can bring about; while if the siphon gets obstructed, the access to the same, to deobstruct it, requires the rising of the plate, having to move away the tiles around, which normally break and have to be replaced with new ones, while the plate itself also suffers breaking risks when it is disengaged from the place where it was fixed. On the other hand, the sump requires a watertight fastening, which makes the assembly and the disassembly of the plate even more complicated, being a perfect adjustment of the mentioned fastening assembly necessary, as any misadjustment can give rise to water leaks and the corresponding problems. There are some realizations, as the one claimed in FR-A-2 562 409, which comprises a base gutter forming a frame along the contour of the shower, incorporating and resting on said base a plate which leaves an opening in the contour for the evacuation of water. This solution provides an easy access to the inner part, removing the plate, but in known realizations, the assembly results with a deficient watertightness, and the plate seat is not very estabilized. To solve those inconveniences, in accordance with the present invention a shower plate is proposed, based on a different realization concept, bringing about very advantageous constructive and functional features. This shower plate, object of the invention, consists in a plate which can be made of stainless steel or glass fibre, which determines a chute, in the shape of a border according to the peripheral contour of the shower, with a bottom which is inclined sideways towards the inside, in whose lower part in correspondence a drainpipe leaves for the connection to the corresponding siphon to the sewage network, while at the upper edge of the mentioned chute walls a horizontal wing is determined towards the outside, being incorporated in support on the wing of the interior walls, with an intermediate joint, a flat plate which covers the surface of the set till near the external walls of the chute, with respect to which a small opening is let free in the contour. This way a shower plate is obtained, in which the drainpipe drain remains defined by the opening which remains in the contour between the superposed flat plate and the external walls of the base chute, with which said drain has an extension that makes the obstruction very difficult. At the plate which determines the surface of the shower plate there is moreover no hole for the drain, which favours the aesthetics. On the other hand there is no connection of the chute with respect to the surface plate, so that this can simply be moved away by lifting it, allowing this way an easy access to the chute for its cleaning, as well as to the siphon to deobstruct it, should the need arise. In the application assembly the base chute is directly incorporated on the corresponding ground, being finished off the adjacent wall covering and the adjacent ground on the horizontal wings of the outer walls of the chute, for which the mentioned wings of the external wall of the chute have an edge turned upwards, which eases up the fastening between the covering fastening material. This way a completely aesthetic shower plate is obtained, whose base structure is fixedly incorporable in the place of installation, without any deterioration being needed to open up an access to the inside, in such a way that its cleaning or deobstruction in the case of obstruction is very easy. In view of all of which, the mentioned shower plate object of the invention certainly offers some very advantageous features, acquiring own life by itself and preferable character regarding the shower plates that are known at present. Figure 1 shows a perspective of the base chute of the preconized shower plate. Figure 2 is a view in side elevation sectioning the set of the shower plate, according to the invention. Figure 3 is an amplified detail of the shower plate disposition in the assembly with respect to a wall at the place of application. Figure 4 is an amplified detail of the shower plate disposition in the assembly with respect to the adjacent ground at the place of application. Figure 5 is an amplified detail of another practical disposition of the shower plate in the assembly, including a border plate around it. Figures 6, 7 and 8 are schematic views of some possible configuration examples of the shower plate in its installation. The invention refers to a shower plate carried out according to some particular constructive features, reaching notable aesthetics, at the same time as solving in a satisfactory way the problem of the opening to have an access to the inner part for its cleaning or deobstruction, when this is necessary. The mentioned shower plate includes a base which can be made of stainless steel or glass fibre, which determines a chute (1) that extends forming a border according to the peripheral contour of the shower in each case. That chute (1) is foreseen made up with a bottom which is laterally inclined towards the inside, leaving in relation with the lowest part a side drainpipe (2), destined to be connected to a siphon for the passage towards the corresponding drainpipe. The side walls of the mentioned chute (1) determine moreover at the upper edge respective wings (3) and (4), horizontally towards the outside, making up, in its case, the wings (4) of the outer walls an edge (5) turned upwards. On the wings (3) of the inner walls a plate (6) is supported which makes up the shower platform, which covers the base surface till near the outer walls of the chute (1), with respect to which a small opening is let free (7) around the whole contour. This way the shower plate determines a set in which the plate (6) is made up of the platform to support the users and to collect the water, determining the opening (7) of the contour the chute, through which the water leaves to the chute (1), to leave afterwards through the pipe (2) towards the drainpipe. The plate (6) support on the wings (3) is established including an intermediate elastic joint (8), by means of which a perfect adaptation of the seat is reached and at the same time a watertight closure on the inner edge of the chute (1). So as to avoid that the water slides below the plate (6) till the mentioned support on the wings (3), on the plate itself (6) an inner nerve (9) is included, which makes that the water which slides down falls to the chute (1) before reaching the support. In the practical installation the shower base is situated inserted in the corresponding ground masonry (10), including the wings (4) of the outer walls of the drainpipe (1) in the masonry of the walls (11) of the area with which they correspond, to finish off on the mentioned wings (4) the coverage (12) of the mentioned walls of the area, in the way it is represented on figure 3. The wings (4) of the outer walls of the chute (1) which do not correspond with the walls of the area, are included, in its case below the coverage (13) of the ground (10) of the contour, in the way it is represented on figure 4. In a possible assembly realization, which does not alter the concept of the preconized plate, in the surrounding contour of the installation an enclosure (14) can be incorporated, as a border, which can be assured with respect to the external wings (4) of the chute (1) by means of engagement and fastening with screws (15), in the way it is represented on figure 5. The base shower plate, made up of the chute (1), remains thus fixedly situated at the place of installation, while the plate (6) which determines the shower platform is situated simply leaning on it, in such a way that to open the access to the inside only requires the lifting of that plate (6), without having to eliminate anchorings nor take away the chute (1), so that the opening is very simple and fast, without causing moreover any deterioration to the installation. For a greater rigidity, at the inside of the border which is determined by the chute (1), reinforcement longitudinal beams (16) can be included, which serve at the same time as a support for the plate (6), assuring this way the resistance of the latter to support the weight of the shower users. With all the indicated structural and assembly features, the preconized shower plate can adopt any configuration corresponding to the different realization shapes of the showers in their installation, for example according to a rounded disposition (17) for the incorporation at the corners between walls (11), in the way represented on figure 6, or for a square disposition (18), also to be incorporated at the corners between walls (11), as the one represented on figure 7, or for a rectangular disposition (19) to be incorporated surrounded by walls (11), as the one represented on figure 8, being these shapes simply some practical examples, which do not have a limitative character.

Claims: Shower plate including a base which forms a gutter (1), expending as a frame around a central opening and forming the external contour of the shower, there being incorporated supported on the base a plate (6) which covers the surface of the assembly until near the external walls of the gutter, with respect to which a small opening (7) is left free around the contour for the evacuation of water, characterised in that the bottom of the gutter is inclined sideways towards the inside, there being provided at the lower part a side drainpipe (2) expending into the central opening and in that the plate is supporter on its seating with the inclusion of an elastic joint (8), providing uniform support and a watertight closure, there being no fixture between the gutter and the surface plate, so that the plate can be simply moved away by lifting it off. Installation of the shower plate of claim 1, characterized in that the base gutter (1) is situated inserted in the corresponding ground masonry (10), determining the outer walls of the mentioned gutter (1) some wings (4) which are include under the floor covering (10) in the contour of the installation, or in connection with the wall masonry (11) of the area which corresponds with the mentioned installation contour. Installation of the shower plate of claim 1, according to claim 2, characterized in that the wings (4) of the gutter (1) finish up with an edge (5) turned upwards, by means of which the fastening is assured during the assembly.

Inventors: LAGARES PLANELLA MANUEL, LAGARES PLANELLA, MANUEL
Applicants: P V C LAGARES S A, P.V.C. LAGARES, S.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47K3
IPC codes: A47K3