Snap fit access panel for tub
A tub surround includes an access opening that has a removable panel that is snap fit to a wall of the tub surround. The snap fit connection ensures that the removable panel can be repeatedly removed with little risk of separation of the securing structure.
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The present invention relates to a molded plastic tub surround wherein a removable access panel is clipped to the underlying tub structure.
Tubs, such as are typically utilized in bathroom environments, are often formed of molded sheets of plastic. A large piece provides a tub and a skirt extending downwardly from a rim of the tub to contact the floor of the bathroom. One type of such tub is used as a whirlpool bath tub. As known, in such whirlpool baths, an access panel is removably attached to the skirt, such that a plumber may have access to pipes, etc., for maintenance. In the prior art, this detachable panel has been attached by self-adhesive Velcro strips, or other adhesive surfaces.
The panel may be removed repeatedly during the life of the tub. The prior art adhesive Velcro™ strips do not always bond well to the smooth surface of the skirt. In the past, these strips have sometimes fallen off.
In one proposed system, the panel is clipped to an underlying intermediate bracket. The intermediate bracket is first secured to the skirt. While the clip is the improvement over the prior art Velcro™ strips, the requirement of the intermediate separate bracket results in an unduly complex assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the disclosed embodiment of this invention, the removable panel is snap fit directly to the underlying tub structure. In a disclosed environment, clips are formed at vertically upper and lower surfaces of the removable panel, and clip behind the skirt at spaced locations. In a disclosed embodiment, the clips extend behind a vertically upper and a vertically lower surface of the skirt. The clips are formed such that they are resilient and will snap out of the way, to facilitate the insertion and removal of the panel.
In a disclosed embodiment, the vertically lower clip has a leg that can hook behind the surface of the skirt. A vertically uppermost surface of the clips is curved to facilitate snapping behind the skirt.
In a disclosed method of removing or inserting the skirt, the skirt may initially be placed with the vertically lower leg locked behind the skirt. The panel may then be pivoted into the opening, such that the curved upper portion snaps behind the skirt to secure the panel.
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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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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.
Claims
1. A tub comprising:
- a forward facing skirt, and a tub defined laterally inwardly of said forward facing skirt, said forward facing skirt having an access opening for providing access to plumbing; and
- a removal panel for covering said access opening, and said removable panel being attached directly to said forward facing skirt with a snap fit connection.
2. The tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein said snap fit connection is provided by at least one resilient snap member provided on said panel.
3. The tub as set forth in claim 2, wherein there are a pair of spaced resilient snap members formed on said removable panel.
4. The tub as set forth in claim 3, wherein said spaced snap members are vertically spaced.
5. The tub as set forth in claim 4, wherein a vertically lower snap member includes a leg for being secured behind a portion of said forward facing skirt, and a vertically upper snap member includes a curved upper surface for snapping behind an upper portion of said forward facing skirt.
6. The tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein said snap fit connection includes a snapping member having a leg extending at an angle from a base wall at a vertically lower position, and a curved surface extending from said base wall, said curved surface being formed to snap behind a surface of said forward facing skirt.
7. The tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein said forward facing skirt includes laterally inwardly extending wall portions, and vertically extending portions extending vertically from said laterally inwardly extending portions, said vertically extending portions defining said access opening, and said snap fit connection snapping behind said vertically extending portion.
8. A tub comprising:
- a forward facing skirt, and a tub defined laterally inwardly of said forward facing wall, said forward facing skirt having an access opening for providing access to plumbing;
- a removal panel for covering said access opening, and said removable panel being attached to said forward facing skirt with a snap fit connection; and
- said snap fit connection including a vertically lower snap member including a leg for being initially secured behind a portion of said forward facing skirt, and a vertically upper snap member including a curved upper surface for facilitating snapping movement behind an upper portion of said forward facing skirt.
9. The tub as set forth in claim 8, wherein said forward facing skirt includes laterally inwardly extending wall portions, and vertically extending portions extending vertically from said laterally inwardly extending portions, said vertically extending portions defining said access opening, and said snap fit connection snapping behind said vertically extending portion.
10. A method of attaching a panel to an access opening in a tub skirt comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a tub having an access opening, and providing a panel for closing or exposing said access opening to provide access to plumbing behind said panel and within said access opening, said panel including a vertically lower clip and a vertically upper clip;
- (2) inserting said vertically lower clip behind a wall of the tub, and pivoting said panel such that said vertically upper clip snaps behind said wall to secure said panel within said access opening.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said vertically upper clip has a curved upper surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 10, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 15, 2007
Applicant:
Inventor: Thomas Sisk (Tottenham)
Application Number: 11/200,684
International Classification: A47K 3/02 (20060101);