Bathing area accessories

• US 9,462,885 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Cohen, Ben, Knowles, Greta, Lilly, Erin, Lilly, Thomas, McDonald, Alan, Tempas, Jeff, Zimbric, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Joshua J
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNETT, DEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US14/743,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20150366342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 211/85.12, 211/119.009, 211/119.011, 454/8, 459/6, 460/5, 461/4, D23/275, D23/283, D23303-305, 312/242, 312/245, 312/405.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0075 Flat or flat-like panels connected without frames for panels mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/042
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/00 Suspended or hinged panels forming a table; Wall tables bed tables A47B23/00; adapted for use in vehicles A47B31/06; in combination with other furniture A47B83/00; arm-rest tables for chairs A47C
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/02 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/04 foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions shelf units with stackable uprights A47B87/00; details of cabinets, racks or shelf units in general A47B96/00; brackets adjustable in themselves A47B96/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/34 the grooved or notched parts being the side walls or uprights themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/002 Corner cabinets; Cabinets designed for being placed in a corner or a niche corner cabinets provided with trays revolving on a vertical axis A47B49/006
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/02 Shelves movable shelves coupled to doors A47B96/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/06 Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves A47B96/022 takes precedence; aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 ; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/061 Cantilever brackets
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/00 Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/08 secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
• 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 3/282 Seats specially adapted for showers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 57/12 specially adapted for attachment to walls, ceilings, stoves, or other structures or objects

Abstract

A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other.

Claims

1. A shelving assembly for use within a bathing area, comprising:

a niche configured to be recessed relative to a wall of the bathing area,

wherein the niche includes a plurality of slots; and

at least one generally planar shelf attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the plurality of slots of the niche,

wherein the plurality of slots are configured to receive and secure the at least one shelf,

wherein the niche comprises two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche and a lower surface that extends between and connects a lower portion of the two sidewalls, wherein the plurality of slots are on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf attaches with a pair of slots from the plurality of slots that are vertically aligned with each other,

wherein the lower surface of the niche has a front portion that is aligned with the wall of the bathing area and a back portion that is recessed relative to the wall of the bathing area, wherein the front portion and the back portion extend between the two sidewalls,

wherein the front portion is lower than the back portion such that the lower surface of the niche is inclined;

wherein the niche comprises a back wall that extends substantially vertically along the vertical length of the niche and extends between a back portion of the sidewalls,

wherein a back edge of the at least one shelf is spaced apart from the back wall such that there is a gap between the back edge the at least one shelf and the back wall for liquid to flow through down to the inclined lower surface which directs liquid away from the niche.

2. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots comprises at least one additional pair of slots that are spaced from each other along the vertical length of the niche.

3. The shelving assembly of claim 2, wherein a vertical position of the at least one shelf is adjustable according to a vertical position of corresponding pairs of the plurality of slots.

4. The shelving assembly of claim 2, further comprising multiple shelves that are positionable along the vertical length of the niche within respective pairs of slots, wherein a vertical distance between the each of the multiple shelves is adjustable according to vertical positions of the respective pairs of slots.

5. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the back edge of the least one shelf is recessed further into the niche than a front edge of the least one shelf, wherein the at least one shelf is angled within the niche such that the back edge of the at least one shelf is lower than the front edge of the at least one shelf.

6. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the slots extend from a front region to a back region of the sidewalls, wherein a portion of the at least one shelf fits within one of the slots.

7. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf is slidable within the pair of slots.

8. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf has two side portions that each fit within and have complementary geometry to each respective slot, wherein the at least one shelf has a middle portion that extends between the two side portions.

9. The shelving assembly of claim 8, wherein the two side portions are thicker than the middle portion.

10. The shelving assembly of claim 8, wherein the middle portion includes a substantially flat top surface.

11. The shelving assembly of claim 10, wherein the middle portion includes an aperture and a container that extends at least partially through the aperture and beneath the flat top surface, wherein the container has at least one drain.

12. The shelving assembly of claim 11, wherein the container includes a hook extending from a surface of the container.

13. The shelving assembly of claim 10, wherein the middle portion includes at least one extension protruding from a surface of the middle portion, wherein at least one extension includes at least one of a hook and a loop configured to secure bathing accessories.

14. The shelving assembly of claim 8, wherein the middle portion includes a basket that extends beneath the two side portions, wherein the basket is at least one of perforated and mesh.

15. The shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the niche fits between two studs within the wall of the bathing area.

16. A shelving assembly for use within a bathing area, comprising:

a niche configured to be recessed relative to a wall of the bathing area,

wherein the niche includes a plurality of slots; and

at least one generally planar shelf attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the plurality of slots of the niche,

wherein the plurality of slots are configured to receive and secure the at least one shelf,

wherein the niche comprises two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche and a lower surface that extends between and connects a lower portion of the two sidewalls,

wherein the lower surface of the niche has a front portion that is aligned with the wall of the bathing area and a back portion that is recessed relative to the wall of the bathing area, wherein the front portion and the back portion extend between the two sidewalls,

wherein the front portion is lower than the back portion such that the lower surface of the niche is inclined;

wherein the plurality of slots are on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf attaches with a pair of slots from the plurality of slots that are vertically aligned with each other, the wherein the at least one shelf has a front edge and a back edge, wherein the back edge is recessed further into the niche than the front edge, wherein the at least one shelf is inclined within the niche such that the back edge of the at least one shelf is lower than the front edge of the at least one shelf;

wherein the niche comprises a back wall that extends substantially vertically along the vertical length of the niche and extends between a back portion of the sidewalls,

wherein the back edge of the at least one shelf is spaced apart from the back wall such that there is a gap between the back edge the at least one shelf and the back wall for liquid to flow through down to the lower surface which directs liquid away from the niche.