WO2001017411A1 - Shower enclosure - Google Patents
Shower enclosure Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001017411A1 WO2001017411A1 PCT/IL2000/000265 IL0000265W WO0117411A1 WO 2001017411 A1 WO2001017411 A1 WO 2001017411A1 IL 0000265 W IL0000265 W IL 0000265W WO 0117411 A1 WO0117411 A1 WO 0117411A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- panels
- shower enclosure
- flexible
- enclosure according
- end segments
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K3/00—Baths; Douches; Appurtenances therefor
- A47K3/28—Showers or bathing douches
- A47K3/30—Screens or collapsible cabinets for showers or baths
- A47K3/36—Articulated screens
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D1/00—Pinless hinges; Substitutes for hinges
- E05D1/02—Pinless hinges; Substitutes for hinges made of one piece
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D5/00—Construction of single parts, e.g. the parts for attachment
- E05D5/02—Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps
- E05D5/0246—Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps for attachment to glass panels
- E05D2005/0261—Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps for attachment to glass panels connecting two or more glass panels
- E05D2005/0269—Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps for attachment to glass panels connecting two or more glass panels the panels being coplanar
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D5/00—Construction of single parts, e.g. the parts for attachment
- E05D5/02—Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps
- E05D5/0246—Parts for attachment, e.g. flaps for attachment to glass panels
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y2800/00—Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
- E05Y2800/15—Applicability
- E05Y2800/16—Applicability applicable on combinations of fixed and movable wings
- E05Y2800/162—Applicability applicable on combinations of fixed and movable wings the wings being coplanar when the movable wing is in the closed position
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
- E05Y2900/10—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof
- E05Y2900/114—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof for showers
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to shower enclosures and particularly to a shower enclosure comprising panels attached to each other by means of flexible hinged connectors.
- a shower enclosure comprising: a) at least two adjoining panels, at least one of which is at least indirectly attachable to a wall; and b) at least one flexible, hinged, load-bearing, integrally-formed connector that dynamically connects said panels, said connector including a first end segment, a flexible middle segment, and a second end segment, said end segments being moveable between a first substantially planir position and a second position, wherein the planes of said end segments are substantially perpendicular to each other, said middle segment including a flexible plastic material and said end segments including at least a semi-rigid material, all three segments being co-extruded as a single integral linear unit and wherein each of said first and second end segments include surfaces adapted to abut each other and to delimit the extent of movement of said end segments towards each other from a linear alignment of 180° to a substantially perpendicular alignment of about 90°.
- each of said end segments is provided with an angled surface adjacent said middle segment which together form a V-like configuration therewith and preferably each of said angled surfaces diverges at an angle of about 45° from the plane of said connector.
- said flexible, hinged, load-bearing, integrally-formed connector can be used to connect panels in a linear configuration when placed in linear alignment of 180°, as seen in Fig. 3, and can also be used as corner elements of an enclosure, connecting two panels at substantially 90° to each other when said end segments are brought together in a manner in which said surfaces of said end segments abut each other to delimit the extent of movement to about 90°, as seen in Fig. 4.
- the at least one hinged connector includes a first end segment having a first open channel sized for receiving therein one of the adjoining panels, a flexible middle segment extending from the first end segment, and a second end segment extending from the middle segment and having a second open channel sized for receiving therein the other of the adjoining panels, the middle segment including a flexible plastic material and the end segments including at least a semi-rigid material, all three segments being co-extruded as a single, integral unit.
- the middle segment preferably includes flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the end segments include at least semi-rigid PVC.
- the middle segment includes flexible polypropylene and the end segments include at least semi-rigid polypropylene.
- the panels may be generally flat or generally arcuate.
- the shower enclosure includes an additional pair of the panels, each connected to one of the at least two adjoining panels with the at least one flexible hinged connector, and a seal attached to an edge of at least one of the additional pair of panels and operative to substantially seal the additional pair of panels.
- the shower enclosure includes an additional pair of the panels, each connected to one of the at least two adjoining panels with the at least one flexible hinged connector, and a seal attached to an edge of at least one of the additional pair of panels and operative to substantially seal the additional pair of panels.
- the shower enclosure includes a tray box which receives therein, or thereon, bottom edges of the panels.
- Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a shower enclosure constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with flat panels;
- Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a shower enclosure constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention with flat panels and a bottom tray box;
- Fig. 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a flexible hinged connector constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention, and used in the shower enclosures of the present invention;
- Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the flexible hinged connector of Fig. 3 in a folded position
- Fig. 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the flexible hinged connectors of Fig. 3, connected to a wall attachment member in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a shower enclosure 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- shower enclosure 10 includes a plurality of panels 12 constructed of any sturdy material suitable for showers, such as plastic or glass. Panels 12 may be transparent, translucent or even opaque. Two adjoining panels 12 are connected to each other by at least one flexible hinged connector 14 that dynamically connects panels 12 such that panels 12 swing about connector 14 between a first linear alignment and a second perpendicular alignment, as discussed hereinafter with reference to Fig. 4.
- connector 14 is a structural member and is capable of bearing at least part of the full weight of panels 12. Preferably only one connector 14 spanning most or all of the length of the panels 12 is required to connect adjoining panels, but more than one connector 14, each shorter than the panel length, may also be employed.
- Handles 15 may be provided for easy entry into or exit from shower enclosure 10.
- connector 14 includes a first end segment 16 having a first open channel 18 sized for receiving therein one of the adjoining panels 12.
- a flexible middle segment 20 extends from first end segment 16, and a second end segment 22 extends from middle segment 20 and has a second open channel 24 sized for receiving therein the other of the adjoining panels 12.
- the middle segment 20 is constructed of a flexible plastic material and the end segments 16 and 22 are constructed of at least a semi-rigid material, all three segments 16, 20 and 22 being co-extruded as a single, integral unit.
- middle segment 20 may be constructed of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polypropylene and end segments 16 and 22 may be constructed of at least semi-rigid PVC or at least semi-rigid polypropylene.
- PVC polyvinyl chloride
- end segments 16 and 22 may be constructed of at least semi-rigid PVC or at least semi-rigid polypropylene.
- the shape of connector 14 illustrated in Fig. 5 is just one example of the many different shapes connector 14 may comprise.
- each of said end segments 16 and 22 is provided with an angled surface 23 and 25, respectively, adjacent said middle segment 20 and together forming a V-like configuration therewith, whereby said angled surfaces serve as an integral, internal braking system and when said surfaces are rotated towards each other the mutual abutment of surfaces 23 and 25 delimit and define the angle between the panels 12 connected thereto to an angle of about 90°.
- Fig. 4 illustrates the flexible hinged connector 14 in a folded position, i.e., folded about middle segment 20, to assume a substantially perpendicular alignment between end segments 16 and 22, by virtue of the abutment of angled surfaces 23 and 25 with each other, said surfaces preferably provided with an angle of about 45° each.
- FIG. 1 it is seen that panels 12 are preferably attached to walls 26 to form the shower enclosure 10.
- the shower enclosure 10 may also be formed solely from panels 12 without walls.
- Panels 12 may be hingedly attached to walls 26 with any kind of hinge, but most preferably, are attached by means of flexible hinged connectors 14.
- FIG. 5 illustrates one of the flexible hinged connectors 14 connected to a wall attachment member 64 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Wall attachment member 64 preferably includes a first portion 66 which snugly fits in either first open channel 18 or second open channel 24, and a second portion 68 which can be affixed to wall 26 with suitable hardware, such as a screw 70.
- a decorative strip 72 which snaps on to second portion 68, may cover the hardware.
- Fig. 1 illustrates shower enclosure 10 with panels 12 extending from walls 26 and connectors 14 bearing the full weight of panels 12. Alternatively, the panels 12 may rest on the floor.
- Fig. 2 illustrates a shower enclosure 40 constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, shower enclosure 40 further includes a tray box 42 which receives therein bottom edges of panels 12.
- Panels 12 of shower enclosures 10 and 40 are generally flat, and the enclosures have a generally rectangular perimeter, however arcuate panels can also be used. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE60021406T DE60021406T2 (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2000-05-09 | SHOWER SCREEN |
EP00925556A EP1227748B1 (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2000-05-09 | Shower enclosure |
AT00925556T ATE299661T1 (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2000-05-09 | SHOWER SEPARATION |
AU44275/00A AU4427500A (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2000-05-09 | Shower enclosure |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IL131824 | 1999-09-09 | ||
IL13182499A IL131824A (en) | 1999-09-09 | 1999-09-09 | Shower enclosure |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001017411A1 true WO2001017411A1 (en) | 2001-03-15 |
Family
ID=11073231
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IL2000/000265 WO2001017411A1 (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2000-05-09 | Shower enclosure |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1227748B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE299661T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU4427500A (en) |
DE (1) | DE60021406T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2246232T3 (en) |
IL (1) | IL131824A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001017411A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1411199A1 (en) * | 2002-10-16 | 2004-04-21 | MTD Industries Ltd. | A plastic profile |
EP1523908A1 (en) * | 2003-10-14 | 2005-04-20 | Composad s.r.l. | Backpiece for sectional furniture |
US7047576B2 (en) | 1997-03-17 | 2006-05-23 | Mtd Industries, Ltd. | Plastic profile |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IL191243A0 (en) | 2008-05-05 | 2009-02-11 | Aharon Tavivian | A connector profile unit for panels |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1559954B1 (en) * | 1964-02-04 | 1972-01-05 | Michael Mueller | PLASTIC HINGE FOR A GLASS PANEL TO BE ATTACHED TO THE WINDOW SASH |
FR2503230A1 (en) | 1981-04-07 | 1982-10-08 | Blanc Rene | Waterproof hinge for shower cabinet - comprises flexible strip attached over whole length of adjacent panel edges |
DE3514276A1 (en) * | 1985-04-17 | 1986-10-23 | VS Winter Bankeinrichtungen GmbH, 4950 Minden | Hinge connection for extruder profiles |
EP0199184A2 (en) * | 1985-04-18 | 1986-10-29 | MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Aktiengesellschaft | Plastic framing which can be slipped on the border of an aperture |
FR2656387A1 (en) * | 1989-12-26 | 1991-06-28 | Roditi David | Device for joining two or more construction elements about a central axis |
US5115855A (en) | 1990-11-05 | 1992-05-26 | Skyline Displays, Inc. | Flat panel portable exhibit display and hinge |
GB2317108A (en) * | 1996-09-12 | 1998-03-18 | Coram | Sealed hinge bath screen |
US5729867A (en) | 1996-11-05 | 1998-03-24 | Carmichael; Carl C. | Flexible and detachable web hinge for display panels capable of orienting one panel relative to another through 360 degrees |
-
1999
- 1999-09-09 IL IL13182499A patent/IL131824A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2000
- 2000-05-09 AU AU44275/00A patent/AU4427500A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-05-09 AT AT00925556T patent/ATE299661T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-05-09 ES ES00925556T patent/ES2246232T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-05-09 WO PCT/IL2000/000265 patent/WO2001017411A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-05-09 EP EP00925556A patent/EP1227748B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-05-09 DE DE60021406T patent/DE60021406T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1559954B1 (en) * | 1964-02-04 | 1972-01-05 | Michael Mueller | PLASTIC HINGE FOR A GLASS PANEL TO BE ATTACHED TO THE WINDOW SASH |
FR2503230A1 (en) | 1981-04-07 | 1982-10-08 | Blanc Rene | Waterproof hinge for shower cabinet - comprises flexible strip attached over whole length of adjacent panel edges |
DE3514276A1 (en) * | 1985-04-17 | 1986-10-23 | VS Winter Bankeinrichtungen GmbH, 4950 Minden | Hinge connection for extruder profiles |
EP0199184A2 (en) * | 1985-04-18 | 1986-10-29 | MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Aktiengesellschaft | Plastic framing which can be slipped on the border of an aperture |
FR2656387A1 (en) * | 1989-12-26 | 1991-06-28 | Roditi David | Device for joining two or more construction elements about a central axis |
US5115855A (en) | 1990-11-05 | 1992-05-26 | Skyline Displays, Inc. | Flat panel portable exhibit display and hinge |
GB2317108A (en) * | 1996-09-12 | 1998-03-18 | Coram | Sealed hinge bath screen |
US5729867A (en) | 1996-11-05 | 1998-03-24 | Carmichael; Carl C. | Flexible and detachable web hinge for display panels capable of orienting one panel relative to another through 360 degrees |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7047576B2 (en) | 1997-03-17 | 2006-05-23 | Mtd Industries, Ltd. | Plastic profile |
EP1411199A1 (en) * | 2002-10-16 | 2004-04-21 | MTD Industries Ltd. | A plastic profile |
EP1523908A1 (en) * | 2003-10-14 | 2005-04-20 | Composad s.r.l. | Backpiece for sectional furniture |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IL131824A (en) | 2003-05-29 |
ES2246232T3 (en) | 2006-02-16 |
DE60021406D1 (en) | 2005-08-25 |
AU4427500A (en) | 2001-04-10 |
ATE299661T1 (en) | 2005-08-15 |
DE60021406T2 (en) | 2006-04-27 |
EP1227748A1 (en) | 2002-08-07 |
EP1227748B1 (en) | 2005-07-20 |
IL131824A0 (en) | 2001-03-19 |
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