GB2306391A - Washing station - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing station such as a shower cubicle is constructed using sheets of laminar material 10 each of which comprises an outer layer of non porous covering material (12) and an inner substantially non porous self supporting sheet material (14). Layer (12) may have a decorative finish. Layer (14) may comprise two layers (20, 22) rigidly spaced apart by webs (24).

Description

WASHING STATION This invention relates to a washing station, for example a bath or shower and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to the construction of a wall around a part of the bath or shower.

A corner shower cubicle arrangement may have a crosssection as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. Referring to the figure, the arrangement includes a first room wall 2, a second room wall 4 and a wall portion 6. The wall portion 6 may comprise a wooden framework which is secured to room wall 4 and which is cladded with hardboard material. The walls 2, 4 and 6 may then be clad with ceramic tiles which are secured in position using adhesive. Gaps between the tiles are filled with grout, which is intended to render the tiled walls substantially impermeable to water.

However, there may be gaps in the grout applied and/or over a period of time gaps may develop in the grout which may allow water and/or steam to pass between the tiles.

If water passes through the tiles on wall portion 6, then it may be absorbed by the hardboard thereof. Where walls 2, 4 are made out of plaster board or similar material, this material may also absorb moisture. Absorption of water by parts of wall portion 6 and/or walls 2, 4 may result in gradual failure of the walls with damaging consequences.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above-described problems.

According to the invention there is provided a laminate material for constructing a wall of a washing station, the laminate material comprising a first substantially non-porous self-supporting material and a second substantially non-porous covering material overlying said first material and being secured thereto.

Said laminate material is preferably opaque Said second material preferably includes a decorative finish. Said second material is preferably synthetic.

Said second material is preferably made of a polymeric, for example a resinous material. Said second material may comprise a laminate of a decorative material, suitably made out of plastics, and a base material, suitably made out of plastics or resin wherein the laminate is secured together by adhesive means.

Said second material may have a thickness in the range 0.lmm to 5mm, preferably in the range 0.4mm to 2mm.

The thickness is preferably about lmm.

Said first material is preferably synthetic. Said first material is preferably made of a polymeric plastics material. A suitable material is Perspex (Trade Mark).

Said first material preferably includes hollow regions. This reduces the weight of the laminate material. Said first material preferably has a cellular construction. Said first material preferably comprises two layers of material which are rigidly spaced apart by spacer means so that hollow areas are defined between the layers. Said spacer means preferably comprises webs which preferably extend at right angles to said two layer. Said spacer means together with said layers preferably define substantially square cross-section cells.

Said first material may have a thickness in the range 0.5 cm to 2 cm, preferably in the range 0.7 cm to 1.5 cm, more preferably about 1 cm.

Where the first material comprises two layers which are spaced apart by a spacer means, each of said layers may independently have a thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 5 mm, preferably in the range 0.2 mm to 2 mm. The spacer means may have a similar thickness. Adjacent spacer elements of said spacer means are preferably spaced apart by a distance of at least 0.5 mm.

Said laminate material is preferably substantially planar.

The invention extends to a method of constructing a wall of a washing station, the method using a substantially non-porous self-supporting sheet material and comprising securing said material in position so that it extends substantially along the extent of a wall of a receptacle of the washing station.

Said wall of said washing station is preferably immoveable when secured in position.

Said wall is preferably an upright wall of said washing station. A lower edge of said wall preferably is positioned adjacent said receptacle, for example a shower tray of said washing station. The method may include providing sealing means, suitably permanently fixed sealing means, between said lower edge and said receptacle.

The sheet material preferably includes a decorative finish and, accordingly, the method includes securing a sheet material which includes an existing decorative finish in position. Consequently, it is not necessary to provide the sheet material with a decorative finish after it has been secured in position.

Exposed edges of the sheet material may be covered, for example capped with a covering means.

The sheet material is preferably a laminate material of the type described herein.

The invention extends to a washing station which includes a wall constructed using a substantially nonporous sheet material.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 2 is a front view of a sheet of laminar material for use in constructing walls of a shower cubicle; Figure 3 is a cross-section along line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-section along line IV-IV of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a cross-section through a corner shower cubicle arrangement.

In the figures, the same or similar parts are annotated with the same reference numerals.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the laminar material 10 includes an outer layer of material 12 and an inner layer of material 14 which layers are secured to one another by means of an adhesive layer 16.

The outer layer 12 comprises a plastics sheet material which has a decorative outer surface 18, for example of a simulated marble effect. The outer layer may itself be a laminate of a base layer and a decorative layer.

The inner layer 14 is of cellular construction and comprises an extruded material made up of first and second layers 20, 22 which are rigidly spaced apart by webs 24.

The layer 14 is suitably made from Perspex (Trade Mark).

In any case, it is a self-supporting rigid layer which is substantially non-porous.

The adhesive layer 16 comprises a waterproof adhesive.

The laminar material 10 can be cut to a desired size.

Edges of the material can be capped using a resilient capping strip 26 as shown in Figure 3.

A shower cubicle may be constructed using sheets of material 10, as shown in Figure 5. Referring to the figure, with a square cross-section shower tray (not shown) in position, a first sheet 10 of material is secured to wall 2 by suitable means, for example using screws, so that a lowermost edge of the material abuts the tray. Then, a second sheet 10 of material is secured in position by suitable means in order to define wall portion 6. It should be appreciated that, in view of the selfsupporting nature of the material 10, the wall portion 6 may be provided by material 10 alone, without the need for any supportive framework. Next, a third sheet 10 of material is secured in position by suitable means in order to define wall portion 4.Finally, the assembly is finished by providing exposed ends 30 of material 10 with end caps 26 and sealing any gaps between adjacent sheets of material 10 or between material 10 and the shower tray with a suitable sealant, for example a waterproof silicone sealant material.

It should now be appreciated that the assembly of Figure 5 can be easily and relatively cheaply constructed.

Advantageously, since sheets 10 are non-porous, their structural integrity should not be affected over long periods of contact with moisture. Furthermore, decorative surface 18 of the sheets 12 can be provided in many different colourways and designs and provides a finish which can be as aesthetically acceptable as conventional tiles.

Although a square cross-section shower cubicle has been described, laminar material 10 may have widespread applications. For example, it may be used to define walls (and ceilings) of shower cubicles of any cross-section.

Also, it may be used to provide a wall or walls around any other washing station for example a domestic bath.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (18)

1. A laminate material for constructing a wall of a washing station, the laminate material comprising a first substantially non-porous self-supporting material and a second substantially non-porous covering material overlying said first material and being secured thereto.

2. A material according to claim 1, wherein said second material includes a decorative finish.

3. A material according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said second material is synthetic.

4. A material according to any preceding claim, wherein said second material has a thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

5. A material according to any preceding claim, wherein said first material is synthetic.

6. A material according to any preceding claim1 wherein said first material includes hollow regions.

7. A material according to any preceding claim, wherein said first material comprises two layers of material which are rigidly spaced apart by spacer means so that hollow areas are defined between the layers.

8. A material according to any preceding claim, wherein said first material has a thickness in the range 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm.

9. A material according to any preceding claim, the material being substantially planar.

10. A method of constructing a wall of a washing station, the method using a substantially non-porous selfsupporting sheet material and comprising securing said material in position so that it extends substantially along the extent of a wall of a receptacle of the washing station.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the said wall of said washing station is immoveable when secured in position.

12. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, which comprises securing a sheet material which includes an existing decorative finish in position.

13. A method according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein exposed edges of the sheet material are covered with a covering means.

14. A method according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein said sheet material is a laminate material according to any of claims 1 to 9.

15. A washing station which includes a wall constructed using a substantially non-porous sheet material.

16. A laminate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

17. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

18. A washing station substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. 1