BATH AND/OR SHOWER DEVICE
The invention relates to a bath and/or shower device, comprising a tub (2) with a lowered entry region (3) that can be closed in a watertight manner by a moveable door. In order to render possible a simple and material-saving production with sufficient stability, one of the sidewalls (2a) of the tub (2) is provided with a recess (2b) extending essentially over the entire length and depth of the sidewall (2a), the moveable door (4) essentially covers half of this recess (2b) and the other half of the recess (2b) is closed in a watertight manner by a further separate and fixedly mounted component (6).
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The invention relates to a bath and/or shower device, comprising a tub with a lowered entry region that can be closed in a watertight manner by a moveable door.
Bath and/or shower devices with a shower tray having a low, ground-level or almost ground-level edge do not make it possible to have a fully adequate bath seated in the shower tray. On the other hand, although a conventional bathtub, at most with a splash protection in the form of a shower curtain or a shower attachment composed of glass panes, renders showering and bathing possible, an entry at ground level or almost at ground level, as into a shower tray, is not possible, because it is necessary to climb over the high edge of the bathtub, which is an almost insurmountable obstacle in particular for those with mobility problems or older people. Therefore a shower as well as a bathtub is usually installed, with a substantial space requirement and increased cost.
As a further development of combined bath and/or shower devices, systems were then developed as disclosed, for example, in DE 299 14 087 U1, which have a substructure embodied in the manner of a bathtub, which in its edge height corresponds approximately to the edge height of a bathtub and which has an entry area almost at ground level, which can be closed against the environment in a water-tight manner by means of a door fastening against an elastomer seal arranged on the substructure in the entry region. The door with locking means can be pulled sufficiently strongly against an elastomer seal from outside that no water can leak out of the substructure in the closed condition. A bathtub/shower combination with an entry region is likewise known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,808, which can be closed in a watertight manner by means of a door. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,345 A a bathtub with a vertically moveable tambour door is disclosed. CN 101342060 A also shows a bathtub with only one door in one of the sidewalls and in U.S. Pat. No. D622363 S a combined shower/bathtub with only one door in one of the sidewalls is disclosed, which has a cutout that can be closed by this door as an entry region.
Bathtubs or substructures for bath and/or shower devices of this type are components with a relatively complex shape and very expensive production, in particular when taking into account the stability and absorption of all forces necessary for tightness.
The object of the present invention was therefore a device that permits a simple and material-saving production with sufficient stability.
To attain this object, a device of the type mentioned at the outset is characterized according to the invention in that one of the side walls of the tub is provided with a recess extending essentially over the entire length and depth of the sidewall, that the moveable door essentially covers half of this recess and the other half of the recess is closed in a watertight manner by a further, separate component fixedly attached. A component that is open over essentially one entire side is simpler to produce than tubs with entry and exit regions of smaller dimensions, wherein, however, the expenditure and space requirement for the door covering the other part of the open side is kept small due to the fixedly attached component. Thus a high degree of comfort for the user and a high degree of flexibility in use—either as a shower or optionally as a bathtub—can be coordinated with a relatively simple and economic production.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device is characterized in that in the central region of the recess, between the region of the door and that of the separate component, a bulge with a height up to essentially the height of the other walls of the tub and/or a center column is provided, wherein preferably at least one water flow is integrated into the center column. Stability in the region of the open side is thereby increased and, if required, can be increased still further by additional installations in the region of the bulge or an optionally separately installed center column which separates the region of the door and the region of the fixedly installed separate component. The center column can additionally have at least one water flow, for instance to supply a tub inlet likewise integrated in the center column, an overflow or also a shower head, which preferably will be the case with a center column going beyond the tub edge height.
This can be carried out, for example, in that a reinforcing structure is provided for at least that region of the vertical sections of the recess, preferably also the region of the bulge or of the center column, if necessary with a connection to a floor construction. Via a reinforcement structure of this type the [word missing] caused by the water and also by the use of the tub—for example, when the user supports himself on the tub—can be absorbed and optionally a deformation of the tub causing leaks can be avoided by a connection of the reinforcement structure to the floor or the wall.
A simple construction having a small space requirement and weight is provided by an embodiment in which a fork-shaped reinforcing structure surrounds the region of the recess on all sides, wherein two side parts of this structure extend at the edges of the recess up to the tub edge and a center portion at least projects into the bulge or center column, preferably likewise at least up to the height of the tub edge, wherein if necessary the bulge is provided with an opening for passing through this center part.
For a comfortable entry into the bath and/or shower device and, when used as a bathtub, a secure seal at the same time, it is particularly advantageous if the door is embodied as a swing door, which opens against the inside of the tub and is to be opened inwards, or as a sliding door preferably to be opened in the direction of the separate component, which reaches at least to the height of the tub edge. In both cases the water pressure aids the sealing effect when the door is closed, so that complex means for pressing or pulling the door can be avoided.
A further increase in comfort is provided by an embodiment in which the separate component is embodied as a shower partition extending in height beyond the tub edge, if necessary, also horizontally into the region of the adjoining end wall.
A further increase in comfort can be achieved if the door and/or the separate component are made of a clear, transparent material.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device is characterized in that an essentially horizontal, wide tub edge without adjoining vertical cladding is provided with at least one end wall or sidewall of the tub, preferably at least the sidewall lying opposite the recess. By means of a design of this type a hidden volume is created in the region between the wall or the walls and the adjoining component, that permits the surface accommodation of lines and therefore without processing the surrounding masonry, but nevertheless hidden from the user's view, and also the assembly or passage of fittings. Furthermore, by means of a design of this type, sufficient space in the upper body region for comfortable showering without much restriction of the freedom of movement can be combined with a small water volume necessary for bathing.
In addition, a wide tub edge provides good seating for the user and space for accommodating storage for bath accessories.
If, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the tub is embodied as a molded part or deep drawn part, preferably of a plastic material, this permits a simple and material-saving production. Two such molded parts can thus be respectively produced jointly, preferably in the deep drawing procedure, with low material waste.
In order to ensure good tightness, the tub in the region of the door and/or of the separate component has moldings for the watertight connection thereof, preferably using an interior perimeter seal.
A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown diagrammatically in the drawings and is explained in more detail below.
A bath and shower device 1 shown in
In order now to render possible a simpler, material-saving production, despite the necessary stability, of a combined bath and/or shower device, the shaping shown in
With the shower and/or bath device ready for use, as shown in a possible embodiment in
The fixedly mounted component 6—as is shown in FIG. 3—with the formation of a shower partition can extend beyond the height of the tub edge 5 advantageously up to the ceiling of the bathroom. An extension along the entire length of the tub 2 in the horizontal direction not covered by the door 4 and optionally also a preferably complete covering of the adjoining end wall is also possible.
As can be further seen in
A center column 8 extending beyond the tub edge 5 can be provided with transverse structures 8a, which extend above the tub 2 towards the interior thereof and, for example, can bear at least one showerhead 9, which preferably can be connected through the center column 8 to the water supply. Even with a lower center column 8, at least a water flow can be integrated therein which for example [word missing] a tub inlet, a tub overflow or a combination of these two fittings provided likewise in the center column and thus in the vicinity of the user still standing outside the tub 2.
To reinforce and stabilize the component 2 in the lower and center region of the recess 2b, a reinforcing structure 10 (see
The reinforcing structure 10 of FIG. 4—as is discernible in FIG. 5—can advantageously be connected to a floor construction 10c, and can extend under the tub 2 up to the opposite side thereof and be supported there. The stresses and forces caused by the water and also by the user of the tub 2 can be absorbed and supported via an expanded reinforcing structure 10 of this type of
Alternatively to the already mentioned embodiment of the door 4 as a swivel door, a comfortable entry into the bath and/or shower device according to the invention and, when used as a bathtub, a secure seal at the same time are ensured when the door 4 is embodied as a sliding door (see
Compared to conventional tubs, an advantageous embodiment according to the present invention, which is shown in
In order to guarantee good tightness, the tub 2 advantageously has in the region of the door 4 and/or of the separate component 6 moldings for the watertight connection thereof, preferably using an interior perimeter seal 11, which likewise shown in
Claims
1. A bath and/or shower device, comprising a tub (2) with a lowered entry region (3) that can be closed in a watertight manner by a moveable door (4), characterized in that one of the sidewalls (2a) of the tub (2) is provided with a recess (2b) extending essentially over the entire length and depth of the sidewall (2a), that the moveable door (4) essentially covers half of this recess (2b) and the other half of the recess (2b) is closed in a watertight manner by a further, separate component (6) fixedly attached.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the central region of the recess (2b), between the region of the door (4) and that of the separate component (6), a bulge (7) with a height up to essentially the height of the other walls of the tub (2) and/or a center column (8) is provided, wherein preferably at least one water flow is integrated into the center column (8).
3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that a reinforcing structure (10) is provided for at least that region of the vertical sections of the recess (2b), preferably also the region of the bulge (7) or of the center column (8), if necessary with a connection to a floor construction (10c).
4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that a fork-shaped reinforcing structure (10a, 10b) surrounds the region of the recess (2b) on all sides, wherein two side parts (10a) of this structure (10) extend at the edges of the recess (2b) up to the tub edge (5) and a center portion (10b) at least projects into the bulge (7) or center column (8), preferably likewise at least up to the height of the tub edge (5), wherein if necessary the bulge (7) is provided with an opening for passing through this center part (10b).
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the door (4) is embodied as a swing door, which opens against the inside of the tub (2) and is to be opened inwards, or as a sliding door preferably to be opened in the direction of the separate component (6), which reaches at least to the height of the tub edge (5).
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the separate component (6) is embodied as a shower partition extending in height beyond the tub edge (5), if necessary, also horizontally into the region of the adjoining end wall.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the door (4) and/or the separate component (6) are made of a clear, transparent material.
8. The device according claim 7, wherein an essentially horizontal, wide tub edge (5a) without adjoining vertical cladding is provided with at least one end wall or sidewall of the tub (2), preferably at least the sidewall lying opposite the recess (2a).
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the tub (2) is embodied as a molded part or deep drawn part, preferably of a plastic material.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the tub (2) in the region of the door (4) and/or of the separate component (6) has moldings for the watertight connection thereof, preferably using an interior perimeter seal (11).
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 1, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 9, 2012
Applicant:
Inventor: Wolfgang ZIERLER (Bad Ischl)
Application Number: 13/363,986
International Classification: A47K 3/02 (20060101);