Patent Application
20240016345
The present disclosure relates generally to shower dams for the use in shower environments.
Shower dams are often installed to shower receptors to prevent water egress out of the shower environment. Conventional shower dams are rigidly secured to the shower receptor via silicone or pressure sensitive adhesive. The rigid connection formed between the shower dam and the shower receptor causes high stress areas when the shower dam is flexed. As a result, conventional shower dams are easily broken and/or need replacing.
One example embodiment relates to a shower receptor. The shower receptor includes a shower dam assembly configured to prevent water egress from the shower receptor. The shower dam assembly includes a shower dam base and a shower dam. The shower dam base is coupled to an edge of the shower receptor. The shower dam base includes a groove extending along a portion of the shower dam base. The shower dam includes a shower dam insert, a flexing portion and a sealing portion. The shower dam insert is configured to be received within the groove. The flexing portion extends from the shower dam insert. The sealing portion extends from the shower dam insert and seals an area between the shower receptor and the shower dam.
Another example embodiment relates to a shower dam. The shower dam is selectively repositionable between a normal position and a flexed position. The shower dam assembly includes a shower dam base and a shower dam. The shower dam base is coupled to an edge of the shower receptor. The shower dam base includes a groove extending along a portion of the shower dam base. The shower dam includes a shower dam insert, a flexing portion and a sealing portion. The shower dam insert is configured to be received within the groove. The flexing portion extends from the shower dam insert. The sealing portion extends from the shower dam insert and seals an area between the shower receptor and the shower dam. The flexing portion is in an upright position when the shower dam is in the normal position. The flexing portion is in an angled position when the shower dam is in the flexed position.
This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices or processes described herein will become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein, taking in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.
The disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which:
Before turning to the FIGURES, which illustrate certain example embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring generally to the FIGURES, a shower dam assembly may be configured for use in a shower environment. The shower dam assembly may include a shower dam base that is coupled to and/or integrally formed within a shower receptor. The shower dam base may include a groove extending along a length of the shower dam base. The shower dam assembly may further include a shower dam configured to prevent water egress out of the shower receptor. The shower dam may include a shower dam insert that is received within the groove. The shower dam insert may define a substantially similar geometry to the groove such to create a snug fit within. The shower dam insert may be pivotably provided within the groove. That is, the shower dam insert may rotate within the groove when a force is introduced to the shower dam.
The shower dam may further include a flexing portion that extends upward from the shower dam insert. The flexing portion may be repositionable between a normal position and an angled position. The flexing portion may be flexible on either side of the shower dam depending on the force introduced to the flexing portion. When the flexing portion is in the normal position, the flexing portion is positioned substantially perpendicular to the shower receptor. When the flexing portion is in the angled position, the flexing portion may be positioned angularly from the flexing portion.
The shower dam may further include two sealing portions extending substantially perpendicular to the flexing portion. The sealing portions may be configured to seal an area between the shower dam and the shower receptor.
Referring generally to
The shower dam assembly 100 may include a shower dam base 110. The shower dam base 110 may be integrally formed within the shower receptor. That is, the shower dam base 110 may be integrally formed within a threshold of the shower receptor so that the top surface of the shower dam base is substantially flush with the floor of the shower receptor. The floor of the shower receptor may have depressions/grooves cut into it so that the shower dam base 110 may fit into the floor of the shower receptor. The shower dam base 110 may be press fit into the floor of the shower receptor. In other embodiments, the shower dam base 110 may be secured into the floor of the shower receptor by the use of fasteners (bolts, nails, screws, etc.). In other embodiments, the floor of the shower receptor itself may form the shower dam base 110 by having a groove formed within the floor of the shower receptor. The groove in the floor of the shower receptor may act like groove 120 in the shower dam base 110. In other embodiments, the shower dam base 110 may be a separate component that is coupled to the shower receptor upon installation. As can be appreciated, the shower dam base 110 may positioned along an entire length of a side of the shower receptor, between the shower receptor and the bathroom environment. In other embodiments, the shower dam base 110 may be positioned along a portion of the shower receptor where water is most likely to build up or individuals are most likely to ingress or egress from. The shower dam base 110 may include a groove, cavity, slot, or the like, shown as groove 120. The groove 120 may extend along at least a portion of the length of the shower dam base 110. That is, the groove 120 may extend along an entire length of the shower dam base 110. The groove 120 may form a substantially cylindrical shape. Additionally or alternatively, the groove 120 may form any other shape.
The groove 120 may be configured to receive a shower dam 130. The shower dam 130 may be a flexible shower dam that is able to flex into and out of the shower receptor. That is, the shower dam 130 may be configured for applications where a user may need to step on, or otherwise abut the shower dam 130. In some embodiments, the user may need a wheelchair or assist within the shower environment, where the user will not be able to lift the wheelchair or assist over the shower dam 130, subsequently leading to the shower dam 130 being flexed into a flat position. The shower dam 130 may be manufactured out of a silicone or rubber material to allow the shower dam 130 to flex (e.g., elastically bend or deform) and elastically recover back into position. The shower dam 130 may be selectively repositionable between a normal position (e.g., as shown in
The shower dam 130 may include a bulbous portion, shown as shower dam insert 140. The shower dam insert 140 may be received within the groove 120 to couple the shower dam 130 to the shower dam base 110. The shower dam insert 140 may define a substantially similar geometry to the groove 120 to create a snug fit between the shower dam base 110 and the shower dam 130. For example, if the groove 120 defines a substantially annular geometry, the shower dam insert 140 may also define a substantially annular geometry. In another example, if the groove 120 defines a substantially rectangular geometry, the shower dam insert 140 may also define a substantially rectangular geometry. As can be appreciated, the groove 120 and the shower dam insert 140 may define any geometry that is suitable for the shower dam assembly 100 (e.g., triangular, prismatic, frustoconical, etc.). In other embodiments, the groove 120 may define a different geometry than the shower dam insert 140.
To install the shower dam insert 140 within the groove 120, the shower dam insert 140 may be inserted via a press force. For example, a user can press the shower dam insert 140 into the groove 120 in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the groove 120 (e.g., by applying downward force), causing the shower dam insert 140 to compress or otherwise elastically deform when moving into the groove 120 via the relatively narrower opening 180 along the top of the groove 120. As shown in
The shower dam 130 may further include a flexing portion 150. The flexing portion 150 may extend upward from the shower dam insert 140. Extending upward may include extending straight upward or partially upward but at an angle (e.g., 5 degrees, 20 degrees, 45 degrees, etc.) relative to straight upward. In other embodiments, the flexing portion 150 may extend upward from a location offset the shower dam insert 140. The flexing portion 150 may be configured to prevent water egress from the shower receptor by extending upward and forming a barrier between the shower receptor and the shower environment. The flexing portion 150 may selectively reposition relative to a location proximate the shower dam insert 140. For example, when the shower dam 130 is in the normal position, the flexing portion 150 may be in an upright (e.g., normal, etc.) position, where the flexing portion 150 extends upward from the shower dam insert 140. Specifically, when the shower dam 130 is in the normal position, the flexing portion 150 may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the shower receptor. In another example, when the shower dam 130 is in the flexed position or the second flexed position, the flexing portion 150 may be angularly positioned relative to the shower dam insert 140. The angular position of the flexing portion 150 may be based upon an outside force introduced to the flexing portion 150. For example, the greater the outside force on the flexing portion 150 results in a greater angle of the flexing portion 150 relative to the normal position. Additionally, the direction of the outside force on the flexing portion 150 may determine which direction the flexing portion 150 rotates. The flexing portion 150 may rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending on the direction of force applied to the flexing portion 150. As seen in
The shower dam 130 may include one or more sealing portions, shown as sealing portion 160. The sealing portion 160 may extend substantially perpendicular (e.g., 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, etc.) from either the shower dam insert 140 or the flexing portion 150. In one example, the sealing portion 160 may be positioned proximate a midpoint between the shower dam insert 140 and the flexing portion 150. In another example, the sealing portion 160 may be positioned distal the midpoint between the shower dam insert 140 and the flexing portion 150. The sealing portion 160 may be configured to seal an area between the shower receptor and the shower dam 130. That is, the sealing portion 160 may be configured to press against the shower receptor to prevent water from flowing into an area defined by the shower dam 130. As can be appreciated, water may be able to enter into the area defined by the shower dam 130 when the sealing portion 160 is not pressed against the shower receptor. The sealing portion 160 may be tapered such that it is thicker near the edge at which it connects to the flexing portion 150 and the shower dam insert 140 and thinner near a distal edge 210. As seen in
The shower dam 130 may include two sealing portions 160. The sealing portions 160 may be positioned opposite one another, where the sealing portions 160 intersect at the flexing portion 150. In other embodiments, the sealing portions 160 may intersect at a location distal the flexing portion 150. As can be appreciated, the sealing portions 160 may provide sealing to either side of the shower receptor. In other embodiments, the shower dam 130 may include more than two sealing portions 160 (e.g., three sealing portions 160, four sealing portions 160, five sealing portions 160, etc.). The thicknesses of the sealing portions 160 may taper as seen in
The shower dam 130 may be configured to flex about a location proximate an intersection between the two sealing portions 160 (e.g., the line along which the flexing portion 150 connects to the sealing portions 160). That is, the flexing portion 150 may be configured to flex about the location proximate the intersection between the two sealing portions 160, the flexing location 170 as seen in
The shower dam 130 may be configured to rotate within the groove 120. That is, the shower dam insert 140 may rotate within the groove 120. As seen in
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “relative to,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order of method steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depicted and described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unless specified differently above. Such variation may depend, for example, on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations of the described methods could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps, and decision steps.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the shower dam assembly 100 and the systems and components thereof as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein. Although only one example of an element from one embodiment that can be incorporated or utilized in another embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciated that other elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/389,101, filed Jul. 14, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63389101 | Jul 2022 | US |
