CA1160002A

CA1160002A - Tub-shower backwall and sidewall panel interlock

Info

Publication number: CA1160002A
Application number: CA000420914A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Scott A. Calvert; Leslie A. Bowman; James W. Rinehart; Merritt W. Seymour
Original assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp
Current assignee: Owens Corning
Priority date: 1983-02-04
Filing date: 1983-02-04
Publication date: 1984-01-10

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Backwall and sidewall panels for assembly with a bathtub in the forming of a shower enclosure are molded with integral interlockable portions respectively thereon whereby the sidewall panel can be assembled with the backwall panel to provide firm engagement therebetween by the interengaging of the interlockable portions with each other.

Description

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This invention relates generally to molded glass 20 fiber reinforced plastic panels which are assembled to 1ine the walls above a bathtub in a bathtub recess and thus form a shower enclosure, and more particularly to an improved me~hod of securing sidewall panels t~ a backwall panel in such construction.
BACKéROUND`ART
ll.S. Patent 3,827,086 discloses a tub-showerO
FI6. 6 shows a joint between the backwall panel and a side~all panel. The joint i5 described at Col. 5, lines 12-31. There is a channel 54 for caulklng and there are 30 holes 55 for screw fasteners. Many times the screw fasteners did not hold and leakage could occur through the joint.
U.S. Patent 4,180,874 refers at ColO 8, lines 44-47, to "metal clips or latches" for securi ng the panels 35 together. These latches were simtlar to those on metal toolboxes. The provision for the securing nf the two latch ., 18320A -2~ 6~ OOz 1 bparts of each latch respectively to the two panels was expensive, involving thickened molded portions on the panels for the reception of threaded metal inserts. Many times an installer did not attach the latch parts by 5 threading screws into the metal inserts, and leakage through the joint could occur.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, mating interlocking portions are molded on the panels as integrai 10 parts respectively thereof. As~a result, no screws or fastening latches are required to secure the molded panels together. In addition, drainage means is provided at the joints and no caulking is re~uired.
BRIFF DES(`,RIPTIQN OF DRAWI_IGS
The inventi~n is described in deta~l hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective vlew showing a portion of a backwall panel and a portion of a sidewall panel, both constructed in accordance with the 20 1nventloni FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspectiYe view showing one of the female interlock portions of the backwall panel of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective 25 view showing one of the male interlock portions of the sidewall panel of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 i s an enlarged fragmentary hori ontal -sectional view showing one of the interlock portions respectively on the back~all and sidewall panels of FIG. 1 30 in assemhled relationship.
BFST ~O~E OF CAR~YING OUT THÉ IN~ENTION
With respect to the drawings, FIG~ 1 shows a portion of a molded glass fiber reinforced plastic backwall panel 10 and a portion of a molded glass fiber reinforced plastic sid~wall panel 12. The backwall panel 10 is contoured to ~nclude a pair of corner portions 10a disposed respectively at opposite ends, only one beiny shown. The z 1 corner portion 10a presents a face 10b adapted to abut an edge face 12a of the sidewall panel 12 when the two panels are assembled. The face 10b is provided with a Yertical groove 10c. A tongue portion 12b projccts from the face 5 12a and extends vertically for reception in the groove 10co The backwall panel 10 is provided wlth a pair of female interlock or pocket portions 10d in vertically spaced relationship on the face 10b, and the sidewall panel 12 is provided with a pair of male interlock or outwardly 10 extending dowel portions 12c. Jhe female interlock or pocket portions 10d are in the form of puckets open at the top and along an inner side. Once the backwall panel 10 is in place, the sidewall panel 12 is assembled therewith by raising it so th~t the dowel portions 12c are above the 15 respective pocket portions 10d, inserting the tongue portion 12b in the groove 10c, and pushing the sidewall panel 12 dcwnwardly to engage the dowel portions 12c in the pocket portions 10d as shown in FIG. 4 and thereby firmly engage the face 12a against the face 10b due to jamming ; 20 action by the pocket portions 10d on the dowel portions 12c.
The groove 10c is deeper than the projection length of the tongue portion 12b. The bottom of the groove 10c thus forms a drainage channel for any water which seeps 25 through the joint by wicking action, and any such water is directed into a soap dish recess (not shown) for eventual drainage into the tub.
An outer s~de surface 12d of the tongue portion 12b is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced 30 inclined ridges 12e, one of which ls best shown in FI6. 3.
The ridges 12e along w1th the tongue portion 12b have an interference fit with the grsove 10c to effect firm engagement between the other side of the tongue portion 12b opposite the ridges 12e and the corresponding side of the ; 35 groove lOc. A ti~ht fit between the panels 10 and 12 is thus provided in an L-shaped configuration. The ridges 12e are inclined downwardly toward the bottom of the groove 1~320A

; 1 10c whereby any moisture collecting on them is also drained harmlessly away. The joint requires no caulking.
A similar but inversely formed sidewall panel (not shown) is similarly joined to the other end portion of 5 the backwall panel 10.
Var~ous modifications may be made ln the structure shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

C L A I M S

1. A molded backwall panel and a molded sidewall panel for assembly with a bathtub in the forming of a shower enclosure, the panels having interlockable portions integrally molded respectively thereon whereby the sidewall panel can be assembled with the backwall panel to provide firm engagement therebetween by the interengaging of said interlockable portions with each other.

2. Panels as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the panels is provided with a vertically extending groove and the other of the panels is provided with a vertically extending tongue portion disposed in the groove of the one panel when the panels are interlocked.

3. Panels as claimed in claim 1 wherein the backwall panel is provided with a vertically extending groove and the sidewall panel is provided with a vertically extending tongue portion disposed in the groove of the backwall panel when the panels are interlocked.

4. Panels as claimed in claim I wherein the interlockable portions include pocket portions disposed on one of the panels and being open on an inner side and outwardly extending dowel portions on the other of the panels, the dowel portions being engageable respectively in the pocket portions upon relative vertical movement between the panels.

5. Panels as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interlockable portions include pocket portions on the backwall panel and outwardly extending dowel portions on the sidewall panel, each pocket portion being open at the top and along an inner side and the dowel portions being engageable respectively in the pocket portions upon downward movement of the sidewall panel.

6. Panels as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interlockable portions include pocket portions on one of the panels and outwardly extending dowel portions on the other of the panels each pocket portion being open along an inner side and the dowel portions being engageable respectively in the pocket portions upon downward movement of the sidewall panel, and wherein the interlockable portions also include a vertically extending groove in one of the panels and a vertically extending tongue portion on the other of the panels, the tongue portion being disposed in the groove when the panels are interlocked.

7. Panels as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interlockable portions include vertically spaced pocket portions on the backwall panel and outwardly extending vertically spaced dowel portions on the sidewall panel, each pocket portion being open at the top and along an inner side and the dowel portions being engageable respectively in the pocket portions upon downward movement of the sidewall panel, and wherein the interlockable portions also include a vertically extending groove in the backwall panel and a vertically extending tongue portion on the sidewall panel, the tongue portion being disposed in the groove when the panels are interlocked.

8. A molded backwall panel and a molded sidewall panel for assembly with a bathtub in the forming of a shower enclosure, the panels having a pair of dowel-and-pocket connections therebetween for jamming a first pair of mating surfaces into firm engagement with each other and also a tongue-and-groove connection therebetween with means on a tongue portion of the tongue-and-groove connection for jamming a second part of mating surfaces into firm engagement with each other, the second pair of mating surfaces extending at right angles to the first pair.

9. Panels as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means on the tongue portion comprises spaced ridges

10. Panels as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ridges on the tongue portion are downwardly inclined toward the bottom of a groove of the tongue-and-groove connection.