Abstract:
A bathtub support structure and method of construction is described. The support structure comprises a support frame structure formed of vertical support posts and lateral frame members for interconnecting the vertical post at predetermined locations in the support frame structure. Each of the vertical support posts has an adjustable support foot at a top end thereof. At least two spaced-apart adjustable connectors are adjustably secured to at least some of the vertical support posts and displaceable along a substantially horizontal axis. The connectors have an outer attachment head formed of a material for removable magnetic attachment to outer decorative panel components. The panel components have magnetic connecting inserts secured to an inner surface thereof.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a bathtub support structure with decorative panel components and method of construction and particularly for use in the construction of free standing bathtubs and for converting existing bathtubs into free standing bathtubs. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Various frame structures and attachments are known for removably connecting side panels to bathtubs whereby to rejuvenate existing bathtubs by providing more aesthetically pleasing side walls, be it in design or color. Such rejuvenation is much less expensive than having to replace an existing bathtub particularly if the model and size of the bathtub is discontinued as it may be difficult to refit a bathtub in a restricted recessed wall space. An example of such structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,795. 
     It is also known to provide support structures for free-standing, drop-in type bathtubs and such is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,477,568 and 6,269,494. However, such systems are specifically adapted for bathtubs of a specific design and the support structure is not modifiable to adapt to various other types of bathtubs. They are also not suitable for converting existing bathtubs, which are supported in recessed wall cavities, to free-standing bathtubs which are accessible from all sides and visible from all sides. The structures described in the above-referenced two patents also require expert labour for its asssembly. They are also not flexible to provide add-ons to existing perimeter portions or rims of bathtubs. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide a bathtub support structure which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a bathtub support structure which has a support frame structure formed of vertical support posts and lateral frame members interconnectable together and provided with adjustable means to secure to different types of bathtubs and different sizes of outer panel components. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a bathtub support structure for converting existing recessed bathtub structures to free-standing drop-in bathtubs and wherein the free-standing structure may have the appearance of an article of furniture. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of constructing a free-standing bathtub support kit and enclosure. 
     According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a bathtub support structure comprising a support frame structure formed of vertical support posts and lateral frame members for interconnecting the vertical posts at predetermined location in the support frame structure. Each of the vertical support posts has an adjustable support foot at a top end thereof. At least two spaced-apart adjustable connectors are adjustably secured to at least some of the vertical support posts and displaceable along a substantially horizontal axis. The connectors have an outer attachment head formed of a material for removal magnetic attachment to outer panel components. The panel components have magnetic connecting inserts secured to an inner surface thereof. 
     According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a free-standing bathtub support kit and side wall enclosure. The method comprises constructing components of a support frame structure formed of vertical support posts and lateral frame members adapted to be secured together by fasteners. The vertical support posts have an adjustable support foot securable at a top end thereof. At least two spaced-apart adjustable connectors are equidistantly securable to at least some of the vertical support posts and displaceable along a substantially horizontal axis. The connectors have an outer attachment head formed of a material for removable magnetic attachment to outer panel components. The method further comprises providing the outer panel components with magnetically attaching inserts adhesively secured to a rear surface thereof for removable connection to the lateral frame members and the adjustable connectors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view illustrating the bathtub support structure and outer panel components constructed in accordance with the present invention and adapted to support and entirely enclose a drop-in type bathtub to form a free-standing bathtub structure; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the support frame structure; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the support frame structure; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmented end view showing the construction of a vertical corner post having an adjustable support foot secured at a top end thereof and adjustable connectors secured thereto; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view showing the bathtub of  FIG. 1  supported by the support frame structure of the present invention and wherein an extension shelf is secured and supported by the support frame structure of the present invention and herein adapted to house additional equipment for use with a therapeutic bathtub enclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view illustrating the construction of the connector disc of the adjustable support foot; 
         FIG. 7  is a partly sectioned and fragmented view showing the connector disc secured to an inner surface of a perimeter shelf of the bathtub by the use of an adhesive and wherein a connector disc is partly imbedded in the adhesive; 
         FIG. 8  is a partly fragmented enlarged view showing the construction of the adjustable connectors; 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of the support frame structure supporting the bathtub as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and showing the location of equipment associated with the therapeutic bathtub; and 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmented corner view of the support frame structure and bathtub as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown generally at  10  an exploded view of the bathtub support structure of the present invention adapted to support and form the side walls of a bathtub  11 , herein a therapeutic bathtub such as an hydro massaging bathtub. The bathtub support structure comprises a support frame structure  12  which is formed of vertical support posts, herein corner posts  13  and intermediate support posts  13 ′ and lateral frame members  14 ′ which are interconnected together by fasteners  15  such as tapping screws or rivets, these being better illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . There are lower lateral frame members  14 ′ at the base of the frame  12  and upper ones  14 . A plurality of outer panel components, herein side wall panel component  16 , end wall panel components  17  and corner panel components  18  are removably attachable and adjustable onto the support frame structure  12  as will be described later whereby to completely encircle the bathtub  11  to give it a pleasing aesthetic appearance in design and color. The panel components may be formed of various materials including wood components whereby to transform the bathtub into an article of furniture resembling other furnishings of a bathroom or spa area. The bathtub can be an existing bathtub converted to a free-standing one or a new bathtub. 
     With additional reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , and particularly  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the vertical corner posts  13  have an adjustable support foot  19  secured to a top horizontal flange  20  of the vertical support posts. Also, at least two spaced-apart adjustable connectors  21  are secured to the corner vertical posts  13  and could also be connected to the intermediate support posts  14 . 
     With additional reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7  it can be seen that the adjustable support foot  19  is comprised of a threaded rod  22  which is threadably connected to the top flange  20  at the top end of the vertical posts  13 . A pair of threaded nuts  23 , one on each side of the flange  20 , immovably secures the threaded rod to the top flange  20  at a desired position. The top end of the threaded rod  22  has a connector disc  24  secured thereto. The connector disc has a flat outer surface  25  which is provided with connecting means which is constituted by one or more through bore formations  26  provided in the connector disc whereby to permit the passage of an adhesive material  27  as shown in  FIG. 7  which is squeezed between the flat outer surface  25  of the connector disc and the inner surface  28  of the perimeter shelf  29  of the bathtub  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . Accordingly, the adhesive material, either silicone or and appropriate glue, partly or fully embeds the connector disc therein to interconnect same with the inner surface  28  of the perimeter shelf  29 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown the construction of the adjustable connectors  21 . As hereinshown the adjustable connectors are screw connectors which are provided with a threaded shaft  35  which is articulately secured by a retention bracket  36  which is clipped into a cavity  37  formed at predetermined spaced-apart locations in the corner posts  13 , as better illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  9  and  10 . This provides for a flexible connection. An outer attachment head  38  is secured at a free outer end  39  of the threaded shaft and is provided on an outer surface thereof with a material for removal magnetic attachment to the outer panel components, herein the corner panel components  15  as will be described hereinafter. A pair of nuts  40 , one on each side of the clip, retains the threaded shaft  35  at a desired extended position. Accordingly, the adjustable connector  21  is adjustable lengthwise as illustrated by arrow  41 . It is also articulatable in the directions illustrated by arrow  42  by its connection to a flexible retention bracket  36 . It is also conceivable that the retention head  38  may be articulately connected to the free end of the threaded shaft  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the attachment head  38  may be formed of a magnetically attractive metal, such as steel, whereby to removably engage the corner component  18  which is provided with a magnetic tape  43  glued along a rear corner portion  18 ′ thereof. Alternatively, the corner component  18  may be provided with a metal strip  43  instead of a magnetic tape and the attachment head  38  may have a magnetic tape  44  secured thereto on its outer face. 
     Because the bathtub enclosure provides for a humid environment, the lateral frame members and support posts are formed of galvanized steel material. The magnetic tapes  43  provided in the corner panel components and magnetic tapes  43 ′ provided on the inner surfaces  16 ′ and  17 ′ of the side wall and end wall panel components  16  and  17 , respectively, are provided with waterproof adhesives. These panels are formed of polymeric material or composite material such as plastics, fiberglass or mixtures thereof or any other suitable material, such as wood, whereby the free-standing bathtub enclosure resembles an article of furniture. 
     As better illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the corner posts  13  are secured to the lateral frame members  14 ′ and have their flat wall surface  13 ″ disposed at an angle of about 45° thereto to facilitate its engagement with the corner components  18 . 
     After the support frame structure  12  has been assembled it can then be connected to the perimeter shelf  29  of the bathtub  11  in a fashion as above-described by the use of silicone or glue  27  which is positioned on the flat outer surface  25  of the connector disc  24  of the adjustable support foot  19 . When the bathtub  11  is disposed thereover the weight of the bathtub will apply the necessary pressure to connect the adjustable support feet  19  to the perimeter shelf, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The side wall panel  16  and end wall panel  17  can now be secured to the lateral frame members. The adjustable connectors  21  are then adjusted to fixedly connect the corner panel components  18  overlapping the side wall and end wall panel components. The lateral frame members  14  and  14 ′ can also be cut to size to build a frame  12  to adapt to specific bathtub sizes and shapes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the support frame structure of the present invention provides for the construction of an adjustable support frame structure wherein an extension shelf, such as shown at  50  in  FIG. 5 , can be interconnected and secured adjacent the perimeter shelf  29 . An extension frame structure  51  using corner support posts  13  and lateral frame members  14 ′ may be provided as a kit attachable to the support frame structure  12  whereby to provide a shelf extension or other accessory to support products thereon or to provide for a greater space about the bathtub enclosure to house additional components  53  such as electronic components for music or video, telescopic television screens, motors, pumps, etc. It is also contemplated that the bathtub support structure of the present invention provides for the conversion of existing bathtubs into therapeutic-type bathtubs as the support frame structure  12  provides for an accessible working environment about the bathtub side walls to drill holes therein to connect water jets or air jets, etc. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the support frame structure  12  also has transverse base support members  54  immovably secured at opposed ends thereof to oppose lower ones  14 ′ of the lateral frame members  14 . These base support members are merely plywood planks, preferably marine plywood-type which are adapted to rest on a floor surface and suitable to receive support blocks  55  dimensioned for support engagement with the base  11 ′, see  FIG. 5 , of the bathtub  11 . Other support platforms, such as shown at  54 ′, can be secured to the support frame to support accessories such as the motor  60  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     The bathtub support structure of the present invention also provides for a method of constructing a free-standing bathtub by providing the support frame structure and panel components and hardware as a kit. A user person would then construct the support frame structure as above-described and cut the lateral frame members to size, if necessary, to build the frame  12 . The frame  12  is then secured to the bathtub by the use of silicone or adhesive. The side walls, end walls and corner panel components are then attached to the frame. The adjustable support feet  19  and adjustable connectors  21  also permit the adjustable positioning of the bathtub and surrounding panel components. This construction is simple and can be made with standard tools available to a handyman and does not require expensive qualified personnel other than perhaps the use of a plumber and electrician to make plumbing and electrical connections, depending on the type of free-standing bathtub being constructed. 
     It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims. As an example, vertical posts may be positioned at various locations along the frame  12  depending on the number of vertical support posts required. Further, the frame can have a shape different than rectangular depending on the shape of the bathtub, i.e., round, oval or other non-rectangular shape.