Patent Publication Number: US-2012036794-A1

Title: Bathing area surround

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/971224, which was filed 9 Jan. 2008 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to securing panels of a bathing area surround to a tub basin. 
     Moisture splashing or leaking from a bathing area during a bath or shower may damage adjacent areas, such as bathroom walls or floors. Bathing area surrounds protect the adjacent areas by containing moisture in the bathing area. Some bathing areas, such as tubs or showers, include bathing surround panels designed to contain moisture to a tub basin. However, such panels are often relatively large, difficult to manipulate into position, and prone to leaking at panel joints. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary bathing area surround includes a surround wall and a tub basin having a tub bottom and a plurality of tub sides. A tub ledge extends from the tub basin transverse to the tub sides. A tub flange extends from the tub ledge away from the tub bottom. A tongue extends from one of the tub ledge and the surround wall. The other of the tub ledge and the surround wall defines a groove for receiving the tongue. The tongue biases the surround wall toward the tub flange when the tongue is received within the groove. 
     An exemplary method of installing a tub surround includes flexing a flange to bias a surround wall in a first direction away from a tub basin while moving the surround wall in a second direction transverse the first direction. 
     An exemplary bathing area surround includes a surround wall moveable between an uninstalled position and an installed position relative to a tub. A surround flange extends outwardly from the surround wall. Separate tongues extend downwardly from the surround flange. The separate tongues are moveable between a less biased position and a more biased position. The tub has a tub bottom. Tub sides extend upwardly from the tub bottom. A tub ledge extends outwardly from some of the tub sides. The tub ledge defines separate grooves configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of separate tongues. A tub flange extends upwardly from the tub ledge. The separate grooves are defined by at least an outer groove wall and an inner groove wall. The outer groove wall is aligned with the tub flange. The inner groove wall is angled relative to the tub flange. The separate tongues are each in the more biased position when the plurality of separate tongues are received within the plurality of separate grooves and the surround wall is in an installed position relative to the tub. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an example bathing area surround; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a close up view of one of the surround wall sections in an installed position; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the  FIG. 2  section in an installed position; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a sectional view through line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  when the panel is in an installed position; 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a sectional view through line  4 - 4   FIG. 3  when the panel is in an uninstalled position; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example bathing area surround  10  including a tub basin  14  and a surround wall  18 . The tub basin includes a tub bottom  22 , tub sides  26 , and a tub ledge  30 . The bathing area surround  10  is shown in an installed position on the tub ledge  30 . The surround wall  18  includes multiple surround wall sections, such as a surround wall back  34  and sides  38 . In this example, the tub basin  14 , the surround wall back  34 , and the surround walls sides  38  are each separate pieces that are attached together to form the bathing area surround  10 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the surround wall back  34  in an unassembled position. The surround wall back  34  includes a tongue  42  for receipt within a groove  46  defined by the tub ledge  30 . A tub flange  50  extends from the tub ledge  30  along the rear of the surround wall back  34 . 
     The tub basin  14  and the surround wall  18  are formed from vacuum formed polystyrene panels, for example. Vacuum forming also forms the tongue  42  and the groove  46 , which secures the surround wall  18  relative the tub basin  14 . Accordingly, the features for securing the surround wall  18  near the tub basin  14  can be made entirely with vacuum forming operations. In some examples, a water jet cutter shapes the perimeter of the tub basin  14  and the surround wall  18  after vacuum forming the individual panels. The water jet cutter may help shape the tongue  42  and cutouts or other details within the bathing surround  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in the installed position, the surround wall back  34  contacts the tub basin  14  at the tub ledge  30  when the tongue  42  is received with in the groove  46 . The tongue  42  extends into the groove  46  beyond the tub ledge  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the tongue  42  helps bias portions of the surround wall back  34  toward the tub flange  50 . More specifically, moving the tongue  42  to the installed position within the groove  46  tends to move the tongue  42  away from the tub side  26  in direction X as the tongue  42  slides down a surface  52  defining a portion of the groove  46 . The surface  52  angles away from the tub basin  14  to direct the tongue  42  away from the tub basin  14 . 
     The tongue  42  also helps bias portions of the surround wall  18  against a bathroom wall  44 . The tongue  42  pulls portions of the surround wall  18  toward the bathroom wall  44  as the tongue  42  moves down the surface  52 . As known, the bathroom wall  44  may include studs that are covered by the surround wall  18 . 
       FIG. 4B  shows the tongue  42  prior to moving to the installed position of  FIG. 4A . As shown, the tongue  42  is aligned relative an axis Y defined generally by the surround wall back  34  in an uninstalled position, but flexes away from the axis Y when moving toward an installed position. In another example, the tongue  42  is transverse the axis Y when in the uninstalled position, but moves toward the axis Y as the tongue  42  slides down the surface  52  to the installed position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , moving the tongue  42  away from the tub side  26  moves a surround flange  54  formed with the surround wall back  34  closer to the tub flange  50 . Moving the surround flange  54  toward the tub flange  50  beneficially helps seal an interface  58  of the surround wall back  34  and the tub ledge  30 . In some examples, an installer may run a bead of caulk along the interface  58 . The installer may use mechanical fasteners, such as nails or screws, to hold the surround wall  18  position against the tub ledge  30 , but generally no fasteners are needed to hold the surround flange  54  against the tub flange  50 . The mechanical fasteners are also located apart from the interface  58  near the upper portions of the surround wall  18  away from the tub basin  14 . 
     The surround wall sides  38  install to the tub ledge  30  in a similar manner. Although shown as the tongue  42  formed with the surround wall back  34 , those skilled in the art and having the benefit of this disclosure will understand that other examples may include the surround wall back  34  including the groove  46  and the tongue  42  extending from the tub ledge  30 . 
     Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.