Shower tray access ramp

• US 7,900,294 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DLP Limited
• Original Assignee: DLP Limited
• Inventors: Luxton, Mark Ian, Stimpson, Robert William
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, CHARLES E
• Application Number:
  US12/018,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20090188035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 4/604
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/281 Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/40 Pans or trays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A shower tray access ramp comprises a ramp part and a transition part selectively attachable to the ramp part. The ramp part has a first edge for connection to a shower tray, a second edge which is opposite the first edge and which is engagable with the transition part, and a ramp portion intermediate the first and second edges. The second edge includes a flange which is spaced from an upper ramp surface of the ramp portion and which is fastenable to a ramp supporting surface. The transition part has a first transition edge which is seatable on the flange of the ramp part, a second transition edge which is opposite the first transition edge and which tapers to or substantially to a point to provide a transition from the ramp supporting surface onto the access ramp, and a transition ramp portion intermediate the first and second transition edges.

Claims

1. A shower tray access ramp for providing transition from a supporting surface to an elevated shower comprising a ramp part and a transition part selectively attachable to the ramp part, the ramp part having a first edge connectable to a shower tray, a second edge which is opposite the first edge and which is engagable with the transition part, and a ramp portion intermediate the first and second edges, the second edge including a flange which is spaced from an upper ramp surface of the ramp portion and which is fastenable to a ramp supporting surface;

and the transition part having a transition flange that is at least in part seatable on and attachable to the supporting surface and at least in part seatable on the flange of the ramp part, a second transition edge which is opposite the first transition edge and which tapers to or substantially to a point to provide a transition from the ramp supporting surface onto the access ramp, and a transition ramp portion intermediate the first and second transition edges.

2. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper ramp surface overlaps the flange.

3. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange projects beyond the upper ramp surface of the ramp portion.

4. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second edge includes a recess defined in part by the upper ramp surface and the flange.

5. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the recess is an elongate channel which extends along the ramp part.

6. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first transition edge of the transition part includes a second flange which is fastenable to the ramp supporting surface, the in use second flange engaging the first said flange of the ramp part to hold the said first flange to the ramp supporting surface.

7. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first transition edge further includes an upstanding wall which is abuttable against an edge of the upper ramp surface of the ramp part.

8. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upstanding wall projects beyond the upper ramp surface so as to provide a ridge.

9. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said second flange and upstanding wall in part form a second recess for receiving at least one floor fastener.

10. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said second recess is a second elongate channel which extends along the transition part.

11. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transition part includes a cap which in use closes the second recess.

12. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first edge of the ramp part includes a lip for location in a recess of the shower tray.

13. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, further comprising attachment means for attaching the first edge of the ramp part to the shower tray.

14. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ramp part and the transition part have rectilinear longitudinal extents.

15. A shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or further ramp and transition parts include one or more curved edges so as the be extendable around a corner of the shower tray.

16. A raised shower tray having a shower tray access ramp as claimed in claim 1 attached thereto.

17. A raised shower tray as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shower tray access ramp is attached to an upper surface of the shower tray.

18. A raised shower tray as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shower tray access ramp is clamped to an upper surface of the shower tray.

19. A method of installing a shower tray access ramp for a raised shower tray, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the shower tray access ramp of claim 1;

b) determining whether the shower tray access ramp is to be provided on or to abut against a finishing floor covering material;

c) connecting the first edge of the ramp part of the shower tray access ramp to the shower tray via attachment means, and fastening the flange of the second edge which is opposite the first edge to the ramp supporting surface adjacent to the shower tray, the ramp portion of the ramp part extending from the second edge up to the first edge; and

d) only if the shower tray access ramp is being provided on a finishing floor covering material, then engaging the first transition edge of the transition part with the flange of the ramp part, whereby the second transition edge opposite the first transition edge tapers to or substantially to a point to provide a smooth transition from the finishing floor covering material onto the access ramp.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein, in step c), the first edge of the ramp part is attached to an upper surface of the shower tray.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein, in step d), if the shower tray access ramp is to abut the finishing floor covering material, then the transition part is dispensed with and the finishing floor covering material is provided up to the second edge of the ramp part so as to overlap and engage the flange.

22. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the finishing floor covering material is one of tiles, wood, and flexible plastics waterproof flooring covering material.

23. A method of installing a shower tray access ramp for a raised shower tray, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the shower tray access ramp of claim 1;

b) determining whether the shower tray access ramp is to be provided on or to abut against a finishing floor covering material;

c) connecting the ramp part of the shower tray access ramp to the shower tray, and engaging the ramp part to the ramp supporting surface adjacent to the shower tray; and

d) only if the shower tray access ramp is being provided on a finishing floor covering material, then engaging the transition part with the ramp part, whereby the transition part provides a substantially smooth transition from the finishing floor covering material onto the access ramp.