GB2122076A

GB2122076A - A shower bath floor unit provided with a stool having a removable seat

Info

Publication number: GB2122076A
Application number: GB08217908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mauro Odorisio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-21
Filing date: 1982-06-21
Publication date: 1984-01-11

Abstract

The unit according to the invention is constituted by a platform (1) shaped in various ways and having a raised border (3) so as to form the receptacle in which the water is held. At one extremity, the floor unit is provided with a raised part (4) placed in the region of the back of the platform (1) that is partially recessed therein and forms an empty space for communicating with the underneath trap and pipework. The seat (9) is removably positioned on the top of the said raised part (4) through suitable locking means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A shower bath floor unit provided with a stool having a removable seat The invention relates to a shower bath floor unit that is provided with a stool having removable seat and is particularly suitable for bathrooms in the home.

For this purpose innumerable shower bath floor units made of various materials and in forms that can be suited to all usage and installation exigencies, have been designed to date. Particular attention has been paid prevalently to the appearance and functional aspects of the floor unit, giving it shapes and raised parts whereby it can hold a maximum quantity of water and offer a more solid grip for the naked feet of the person taking a shower.

In adtual practice numerous difficulties and shortcomings have been found with the said units, especially on the part of old people, children and the disabled who do not find any supporting surface that allows them to keep their balance or on which to sit down in order to wash themselves more comfortably and more safely since the floor unit, however it is made, is always somewhat slippery due to the soapy water contained therein.

To overcome this problem, shower bath floor units have been made that are provided with vertical members forming a steel type support but, in common with conventional shower bath floor units, with them there is one serious problem, namely, that it is absolutely not possible to have any access at all to the siphon trap and to the pipes connected thereto.

In consequence of this, in the event of there being a leakage or a breakage in the trap or in the other pipes, it is necessary to break the floor and the adjacent walls or even to have to remove the shower bath floor unit in order to uncover the fault in the trap or in the pipe. Even when the fault is of a minor entity and thus can easily be repaired, an experienced person is always needed and the time taken is somewhat long.

The object of the invention is to create a shower bath floor unit provided with a stool on which the user can rest or be supported which, at the same time, is equipped with means designed to allow free access to the trap and to the other pipework so that maintenance be easy and fast.

This problem is overcome with the shower bath floor unit according to the invention that is provided with a stool having a removable seat and is characterized by the fact that it is constituted by a platform at one extremity of which there is a raised part that forms the shank of the stool, the seat thereof slotting into the top of the said raised part; the said platform being shaped in various ways and having a raised border so as to form the receptable in which the water is held; the said raised part that forms the shank of the stool being placed in the region of the back of the said platform, partially recessed therein, adjacent to the wall and forming between this and its own inner walls, an empty space for communicating with the underneath of the floor unit; the said seat being removably positioned on the top of the said raised part through suitable locking means.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description that follows of one preferred but not sole form of embodiment for a shower bath floor unit, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the shower bath floor unit instalied complete with the seat; Figure 2 shows the shower bath floor unit in a view seen from the rear.

With reference to Figure 1, at 1 has been shown the platform which in actual practice constitutes the part on which the user of the shower bath floor unit stands. This, provided with a draining hole 2 and a raised border 3, forms the receptacle in which the water is held. On one of the sides adjacent to the walls, or at a point where there is a corner, there is a raised part 14 that constitutes the vertical shank of the stool, adjacent to the walls of the room and fixed thereto by means of a plurality of continuous or scattered insertion profiles 5, placed both on the said shank 4 and all along the edge of the shower bath floor unit destined to be fixed to the walls (Figure 2).

The said shank 4 is partially recessed into the said platform 1 in such a way as to create in between the walls to which the shank 4 is fixed and its own inside walls, an empty space 6 in communication (Figure 2) with the underneath of the floor unit.

Through the said empty space 6 it is thus possible to gain access, from above, to the siphon trap and to the other pipework connected thereto (shown globally at 7 in Figure 2) normally placed in the flooring at a level below the draining hole 2.

The said conformation allows maximum access to the trap for any check or repair without, in the slightest, having to break the floor or the walls.

In the region of the upper extremity of the shank 4, a plurality of locking means 8 are provided and these mate with a similar plurality placed on the underneath surface of a seat 9 which, through these, is fixed in a removable fashion in case it should be necessary to gain access to the trap, to the top of the said shank 4 to complete the stool which is particularly useful for old people and children to use as a rest or support, and is extremely convenient for all other users.

The floor unit according to the invention can, naturally, be so made as to either be fixed flush in the flooring or to the surface thereof as depicted, by way of an example, in the drawings.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the above described forms of embodiment and numerous variants of a practical nature, all of which fall within the framework of the invention, as possible.

1. A shower bath floor unit provided with a stool having a removable seat, characterized by the fact that it is constituted by a platform (1) at

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A shower bath floor unit provided with a stool having a removable seat The invention relates to a shower bath floor unit that is provided with a stool having removable seat and is particularly suitable for bathrooms in the home. For this purpose innumerable shower bath floor units made of various materials and in forms that can be suited to all usage and installation exigencies, have been designed to date. Particular attention has been paid prevalently to the appearance and functional aspects of the floor unit, giving it shapes and raised parts whereby it can hold a maximum quantity of water and offer a more solid grip for the naked feet of the person taking a shower. In adtual practice numerous difficulties and shortcomings have been found with the said units, especially on the part of old people, children and the disabled who do not find any supporting surface that allows them to keep their balance or on which to sit down in order to wash themselves more comfortably and more safely since the floor unit, however it is made, is always somewhat slippery due to the soapy water contained therein. To overcome this problem, shower bath floor units have been made that are provided with vertical members forming a steel type support but, in common with conventional shower bath floor units, with them there is one serious problem, namely, that it is absolutely not possible to have any access at all to the siphon trap and to the pipes connected thereto. In consequence of this, in the event of there being a leakage or a breakage in the trap or in the other pipes, it is necessary to break the floor and the adjacent walls or even to have to remove the shower bath floor unit in order to uncover the fault in the trap or in the pipe. Even when the fault is of a minor entity and thus can easily be repaired, an experienced person is always needed and the time taken is somewhat long. The object of the invention is to create a shower bath floor unit provided with a stool on which the user can rest or be supported which, at the same time, is equipped with means designed to allow free access to the trap and to the other pipework so that maintenance be easy and fast. This problem is overcome with the shower bath floor unit according to the invention that is provided with a stool having a removable seat and is characterized by the fact that it is constituted by a platform at one extremity of which there is a raised part that forms the shank of the stool, the seat thereof slotting into the top of the said raised part; the said platform being shaped in various ways and having a raised border so as to form the receptable in which the water is held; the said raised part that forms the shank of the stool being placed in the region of the back of the said platform, partially recessed therein, adjacent to the wall and forming between this and its own inner walls, an empty space for communicating with the underneath of the floor unit; the said seat being removably positioned on the top of the said raised part through suitable locking means. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description that follows of one preferred but not sole form of embodiment for a shower bath floor unit, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the shower bath floor unit instalied complete with the seat; Figure 2 shows the shower bath floor unit in a view seen from the rear. With reference to Figure 1, at 1 has been shown the platform which in actual practice constitutes the part on which the user of the shower bath floor unit stands. This, provided with a draining hole 2 and a raised border 3, forms the receptacle in which the water is held. On one of the sides adjacent to the walls, or at a point where there is a corner, there is a raised part 14 that constitutes the vertical shank of the stool, adjacent to the walls of the room and fixed thereto by means of a plurality of continuous or scattered insertion profiles 5, placed both on the said shank 4 and all along the edge of the shower bath floor unit destined to be fixed to the walls (Figure 2). The said shank 4 is partially recessed into the said platform 1 in such a way as to create in between the walls to which the shank 4 is fixed and its own inside walls, an empty space 6 in communication (Figure 2) with the underneath of the floor unit. Through the said empty space 6 it is thus possible to gain access, from above, to the siphon trap and to the other pipework connected thereto (shown globally at 7 in Figure 2) normally placed in the flooring at a level below the draining hole 2. The said conformation allows maximum access to the trap for any check or repair without, in the slightest, having to break the floor or the walls. In the region of the upper extremity of the shank 4, a plurality of locking means 8 are provided and these mate with a similar plurality placed on the underneath surface of a seat 9 which, through these, is fixed in a removable fashion in case it should be necessary to gain access to the trap, to the top of the said shank 4 to complete the stool which is particularly useful for old people and children to use as a rest or support, and is extremely convenient for all other users. The floor unit according to the invention can, naturally, be so made as to either be fixed flush in the flooring or to the surface thereof as depicted, by way of an example, in the drawings. Obviously the invention is not limited to the above described forms of embodiment and numerous variants of a practical nature, all of which fall within the framework of the invention, as possible. CLAIMS

1. A shower bath floor unit provided with a stool having a removable seat, characterized by the fact that it is constituted by a platform (1) at one extremity of which there is a raised part (4) that forms the shank of the stool, the seat (9) thereof slotting into the top of the said raised part (4); the said platform (1) being shaped in various ways-and having a raised border (3) so as to form the receptable in which the water is held; the said raised part (4) that forms the shank of the stool being placed in the region of the back of the said platform (1), partially recessed therein, adjacent to the wall and forming between this and its own inner walls, an empty space for communicating with the underneath of the floor unit; the said seat (9) being removably positioned on the top of the said raised part (4) through suitable locking means (8).

2. A shower bath-floor unit provided with a stool having a removable seat (9) according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the said platform can be of a conformation such as to be installed flush in the flooring or to the surface thereof, with a plurality of insertion profiles (5) being provided at points corresponding to the sides to be fixed to the wall.

3. A shower bath floor unit provided with a stool having a removable seat49) according to the preceding claims and as described and illustrated.