Patent Grant
9737174
The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C §371 of International Application No. PCT/CN2015/071770 filed Jan. 28, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to the field of sanitary and bathing devices, and particularly to a shower door installed in a shower room, a shower door frame for such a shower door and a track corner connecting device for such a shower door.
Today, people usually provide shower rooms in washing rooms when performing decoration. Existing shower rooms usually use shower doors with glass panels. Most existing shower doors can be divied into two types, namely, sliding doors with tracks and hinge doors with hinges.
A hinge door includes a metal frame within which a glass panel is provided. Usually at least one glass panel is a fixed glass panel fixed within the frame; that is, the fixed glass panel cannot move relative to the frame. In addition, at least one movable glass panel that can rotate relative to the fixed glass panel is provided within the frame, and the movable glass panel and the fixed glass panel are connected by two or more hinges. When opening or closing the shower door, it only needs to push the movable glass panel to rotate around the axes of the hinges.
A sliding door includes a metal frame including one or two tracks provided at an upper end or a lower end of the sliding door. The track(s) is/are substantially parallel with the ground. In addition, side frames are provided at both sides of the frame respectively, are perpendicular with the tracks, and are fixedly connected to the tracks. At least two glass panels are provided within the frame. Multiple glass panels may be movable ones that can slide back and forth in the tracks. In another case, at least one fixed glass panel that cannot slide relative to the tracks may be provided. If a fixed glass panel is provided, the shower door should at least include one movable glass panel that can slide back and forth in the tracks.
It is possible for both a shower door having a hinge door structure and a shower door having a sliding door structure to include a shower door with a bending structure. As show in
Since the included angle between the tracks 10 and 11 may be an angle such as 90° or 135°, the current connecting devices 18 and 19 are designed into required angles according to the included angles between the tracks, and are provided with screw holes thereon. When mounting the shower door, the tracks and the connecting devices are connected using screws, but such a method is time-and-labor-consuming for installation staff.
Other available connecting devices are designed to have a plurality of components, wherein one component is connected with a track while another component with another track, then a third component is used to connected the above two components, thereby achieving connection between the two tracks. Although such a method spares screws in field installation, the connecting device has a large number of components, and some connecting devices even need to be assembled in advance; therefore, mounting the shower door will take a long time, and the cost for producing and mounting the shower door will increase.
To solve the above problems, the main objective of this invention is to provide a track corner connecting device for a shower door with a small number of parts and convenient assembly.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a shower door frame having a track with a corner, requiring no installation tool and no screws when installing.
A further objective of this invention is to provide a shower door with short installation time and low manufacturing cost.
To realize the main objective of this invention, this invention provides a track corner connecting device for a shower door, comprising: an inserting member and a receiving member, the inserting member being fixedly connected to a first track of the shower door, the receiving member being fixedly connected to a second track of the shower door, wherein: the inserting member comprises an insert, the insert having a chamber therein and being provided with a first opening; the receiving member comprises a receiver, the receiver having a receiving chamber therein and being provided with a second opening and a third opening, the second and third openings being arranged on two adjacent walls of the receiver, and the inserting member being capable of passing through the second opening so as to be mounted in the receiving chamber; the receiving member further comprises a fixture which is arranged at one side of the third opening, is connected to a first wall of the receiver, and is capable of rotating around a side of the first wall of the receiver and being snap-fitted in the chamber of the inserting member; and an exit-stopping projection is provided on a second wall of the receiving member opposite the first wall, an end of the fixture abutting against the exit-stopping projection.
According to a preferred solution, the end of the fixture is provided with an unlocking member which is connected to the end of the fixture through a first sheet and is capable of rotating around the first sheet.
According to a further solution, the unlocking member is provided with an unlocking projection which is capable of abutting against the exit-stopping projection of the receiving member.
According to a yet further solution, the fixture comprises a first connecting piece and a second connecting piece that are interconnected, at least one side of the first and second connecting pieces is connected to an elastic piece, and the elastic piece is provided with at least one cut.
According to a yet further solution, at least one first position limiting projection is provided on a surface of the inserting member adjoining the first track, and at least one second position limiting projection is provided on a surface of the receiving member adjoining the second track.
According to a yet further solution, the connecting device further comprises a decorating cover encapsulating the receiving member, the decorating cover is provided with a latch therein; the inserting member and/or the receiving member is/are provided with an open slot/open slots into which the latch is inserted.
According to a yet further solution, a lower end of the decorating cover is provided with an exit-stopper, and a lower end of the receiving member is provided with a step portion to which the exit-stopper is snap-fitted.
To realize another objective of this invention, this invention provides a shower door frame, comprising: a track extending in a horizontal direction and a side frame arranged to be perpendicular with the track, the track comprising a first track and a second track with an included angle formed therebetween, the first and second tracks being connected by a connecting device; wherein: the connecting device comprises an inserting member and a receiving member, the inserting member being fixedly connected to the first track, the receiving member being fixedly connected to the second track; the inserting member comprises an insert, the insert having a chamber therein and being provided with a first opening; the receiving member comprises a receiver, the receiver having a receiving chamber therein and being provided with a second opening and a third opening, the second and third openings being arranged on two adjacent walls of the receiver, and the inserting member being capable of passing through the second opening so as to be mounted in the receiving chamber; the receiving member further comprises a fixture which is arranged at one side of the third opening, is connected to a first wall of the receiver, and is capable of rotating around a side of the first wall of the receiver and being snap-fitted in the chamber of the inserting member; and an exit-stopping projection is provided on a second wall of the receiving member opposite the first wall, an end of the fixture abutting against the exit-stopping projection.
To realize another objective of this invention, this invention provides a shower door, comprising: a track extending in a horizontal direction and a side frame arranged to be perpendicular with the track, a glass panel being mounted within the side frame, the track comprising a first track and a second track with an included angle formed therebetween, and the first and second tracks being connected by a connecting device; wherein: the connecting device comprises an inserting member and a receiving member, the inserting member being fixedly connected to the first track, the receiving member being fixedly connected to the second track; the inserting member comprises an insert, the insert having a chamber therein and being provided with a first opening; the receiving member comprises a receiver, the receiver having a receiving chamber therein and being provided with a second opening and a third opening, the second and third openings being arranged on two adjacent walls of the receiver, and the inserting member being capable of passing through the second opening so as to be mounted in the receiving chamber; the receiving member further comprises a fixture which is arranged at one side of the third opening, is connected to a first wall of the receiver, and is capable of rotating around a side of the first wall of the receiver and being snap-fitted in the chamber of the inserting member; and an exit-stopping projection is provided on a second wall of the receiving member opposite the first wall, an end of the fixture abutting against the exit-stopping projection.
The connecting device for use in a shower door provided in this invention has an inserting member and a receiving member, wherein the inserting member can be inserted into the receiving member, a fixture of the receiving member can rotate around one side and can be snap-fitted in the chamber of the inserting member to fix the inserting member in the receiving member. Since the inserting member is fixedly connected with the first track, and the receiving member is fixedly connected with the second track, connection between the first track and the second track of the shower door can be realized simply by way of connection between the inserting member and the receiving member.
Thus, when assembling the shower door frame, first, the inserting member is fixed at one end of the first track, and the receiving member at one end of the second track; then, the inserting member is inserted into the receiving chamber of the receiving member; finally, the fixture of the receiving member is snap-fitted downwards in the chamber of the inserting member, so that assembling of the two tracks is realized simply. As no screw and tool will be required for the installation between the two tracks, the installation of the shower door frame consumes less time, and the assembling operation is simple, so that the costs for the production and installation of the shower door can be reduced.
Besides, since the track corner connecting device only includes one inserting member and one receiving member, it requires fewer components, and can further reduce the production cost of the shower door.
Further, as an end of the fixture is provided with an unlocking member, when detaching the connecting device, the unlocking member can be released from the receiving chamber by only rotating the unlocking member, so that the fixture can be released from the chamber of the inserting member, and the inserting member can be taken out of the receiving chamber easily. Therefore, the detaching of the connecting device is simple and convenient.
In addition, by providing a decorating cover outside the inserting member and the receiving member, the inserting member and the receiving member can be encapsulated for decoration purposes, and the latch can be inserted into the open slots of the inserting member and the receiving member, so that the inserting member and the receiving member are fixed, and relative movement between the inserting member and the receiving member is prevented, thereby providing secure fixing of the connecting device.
This invention will be further explained in combination with the figures and the embodiments.
The shower door of this invention is mounted in a shower room, is in a bent shape and has a shower door frame and a glass panel mounted in the shower door frame. The shower door frame includes a track extending in a horizontal direction and a side frame arranged to be perpendicular to the track. The track includes an upper track mounted at an upper side of the glass panel and a lower track mounted at a lower side of the glass panel, wherein the upper track includes a first track and a second track forming an included angle therebetween, the included angle is 90° or 135°, and the first and second tracks are connected by a connecting device. The lower track also includes a first track and a second track forming an included angle therebetween, the included angle is 90° or 135°, and the first and second tracks are also connected by a connecting device. This invention mainly improves the connecting device that connects the first track with the second track, and the structure of the connecting device will be described in detail in the followings.
Referring to
Of course, the inserting member 21 may be fixed to an end of the first track 12 by a rivet or welding, may be fixed to the end of the first track 12 at the installation site of the shower door or may be fixed to the end of the first track 12 in advance. The receiving member 40 may be fixed to an end of the second track 13 by a rivet or welding, may be fixed to the end of the second track 13 at the installation site of the shower door or may be fixed to the end of the second track 13 in advance.
Referring to
The insert 26 extends outwards from a side of the body 22 opposite the end face 23, is enclosed by a top wall 27, a bottom wall 28 opposite the top wall 27, side walls 29, 30 and the body 22, and encloses a chamber 31 that has an opening. Specifically, the chamber 31 has the opening at its end opposite the side wall 30. Thus, the insert 26 has an opening, which is said opening. Of course, the side wall 30 may not be necessary and may be omitted in application.
A screw dodging hole 32 is provided to the side wall 29, and a screw dodging hole 34 is also provided to the side wall 30, so that the screw 35 can smoothly pass through the insert 26 and can be screwed in the threaded hole 18 during installation. In addition, an open slot 33 is provided to the top wall 27, so that the decorating cover 80 can fix the inserting member 21.
When assembling the shower door frame, the inserting member 21 needs to be fixed at the end of the first track 12 by the screw 35 first, as shown in
Referring to
A receiver 44 is provided at a side of the body 41 away from the second track 13, includes a top wall 46, a bottom wall 47 opposite the top wall 46, side walls 48, 49 and the body 41, and encloses a receiving chamber 45. No side wall is provided at a surface opposite the body 41, so the receiving chamber 45 has an opening 50 opposite the body 41. In addition, the side wall 49 is also provided with an opening 52. As shown in
A fixture 60 is provided above the receiver 44. The fixture 60 in this embodiment is generally triangular prismatical, and includes interconnected first and second connecting pieces 61, 62. The first connecting piece 61 is connected to the top wall 46 by a sheet 63, which is flexible, so that the fixture 60 can rotate about one side wall of the top wall 46. In other words, the sheet 63 is rotatable. Of course, the fixture 60 may be designed to have a cuboid shape, a cylindrical shape or the like.
An elastic piece 64 is provided at a side of the first and second connecting pieces 61, 62, includes a cut 65, and is connected to the first and second connecting pieces 61, 62 so as to limit positions of the first and second connecting pieces 61, 62. Another elastic piece 69 is provided at a side opposite to the elastic piece 64, is connected to the first and second connecting pieces 61, 62, and also includes a cut 70.
The fixture 60 may rotate downwards around one side wall of the top wall 46 and may be snap-fitted to the receiving chamber 45. The fixture 60 passes through the opening 50 and extends into the receiving chamber 45. When the fixture 60 is snap-fitted to the receiving chamber 45, the first connecting piece 61 may move relative to the second connecting piece 62. As the elastic piece 64 includes a cut 65 and the elastic piece 69 includes a cut 70, a length A of the fixture 60 can vary in a certain range, so that the first connecting piece 61 can move relative to the second connecting piece 62.
In addition, the length A of the fixture 60 is substantially the same as a length B of the receiving chamber 45. A width C of the fixture 60 is substantially the same as a width D of the receiving chamber 45. An exit-stopping projection 54 is provided at an inner surface of the bottom wall 47. When the fixture 60 is snap-fitted to the receiving chamber 45, the end of the fixture 60 abuts against the exit-stopping projection 54, so that the fixture 60 can be fixed in the receiving chamber 45.
An end of the fixture 60 is provided with an unlocking member 66, which is connected to an end of the second connecting piece 62 through a sheet 68, is provided with an unlocking projection 67 and is capable of rotating around the sheet 68.
Preferably, guiding portions are provided to the sides of the openings 50 and 52, and the guiding portions are inclined surfaces to facilitate entry of the inserting member 21 and the fixture 60 into the receiving chamber 45. In addition, an open slot 59 is provided to the top wall 46, and a position-limiting step 57 to the bottom wall 47.
In this embodiment, the fixture 60 is provided to the top wall 46 of the receiving member 40, and the position-limiting projection 54 to the bottom wall 47. In application, the fixture 60 may be provided to the side wall, and the position-limiting projection 54 may be provided to another side wall opposite to the side wall to which the fixture 60 is provided. Alternatively, the fixture 60 may be provided to the bottom wall 47, and the position-limiting projection 54 to an inner surface of the top wall 46, so long as the fixture 60 and the position-limiting projection 54 are provided to two opposite surfaces, respectively.
When assembling the shower door frame, the receiving member 40 may be fixed at the end of the second track 13 through the screw 58. An assembled structure is shown in
A decorating cover 80 encapsulates the inserting member 21 and the receiving member 40. As shown in
A lower edge of the outer decorating piece 82 of the decorating cover 80 is provided with an exit-stopper 84, which is in the shape of a barb and may be snap-fitted to the step portion 57 of the receiving member 40 so as to prevent releasing of the decorating cover 80 from the receiving member 40.
When assembling the shower door, first, the inserting member 21 is mounted to the end of the first track 12, and the receiving member 40 to the end of the second track 13; then, the inserting member 21 is inserted into the receiving chamber 45 of the receiving member 40; as shown in
Afterwards, the fixture 60 is rotated and snap-fitted into the chamber 31 of the inserting member 21. As shown in
When detaching the connecting device, first, the decorating cover 80 is dismounted; then, the unlocking member 66 of the fixture 60 is caused to rotate around the sheet 68; using a leverage principle, the unlocking member 66 forces the fixture 60 to release from the chamber 31 due to connection of the sheet 68; finally, the inserting member 21 is taken out of the receiving chamber 45, thereby detaching the connecting device.
Referring to
The inserting member 95 includes a body 96 and an insert at a side of the body 96. The insert is formed with a chamber 97 therein and includes an opening. The receiving member 100 has a body 101 and a receiving chamber 102 at a side of the body 101. The inserting member 95 may be inserted into the receiving chamber 102. The receiving chamber 102 includes openings 103, 107 provided at two adjacent side walls. The inserting member 95 may pass through the opening 103 and may be inserted into the receiving chamber 102. A fixture 104 is provided at a top wall of the insert. An end of the fixture 104 is provided with an unlocking member 105 including an unlocking projection 106. A position-limiting projection 108 is provided at a bottom wall of the receiver. The end of the fixture 104 may abut against the position-limiting projection 108 so as to fix the fixture 104 in the chamber 97 of the inserting member 95.
When assembling the shower door frame, the inserting member 95 is fixed to the first track 91, the receiving member 100 to the second track 92, and the inserting member 95 is inserted into the receiving chamber 102. By rotating the fixture 104 and snap-fitting the fixture 104 in the chamber 97, the inserting member 95 is fixed in the receiving member 100, thereby realizing connection between the first and second tracks 91, 92.
As the connecting device of the present invention only includes three parts, namely, the inserting member, the receiving member and the decorating cover, and no screw and tool are required for the assembling of the inserting member and the receiving member, the assembling of the shower door frame is simple and convenient. As the manufacturing cost of the connecting device is low, the manufacturing cost of the shower door can be reduced.
In the above embodiments, the fixture is fixed to the top wall of the receiver by a sheet. In application, the fixture may be fixed to the top wall of the receiver by a pin, a hinge or the like.
The shower door of this invention is installed in a toilet, and acts as an important part of a shower room, which may be an integral shower room having a chassis or a shower room enclosed by the shower door and walls with the shower door installed between two adjacent walls with an included angle therebetween. The shower door of this invention may only include an upper track, or may include both upper and lower tracks. The tracks of the shower door are connected by the above described connecting device.
The shower door of this invention is applicable for on-site assembling in customers' toilets. By applying the product of this invention, installation operations of the shower door are simple, and it does not need screws to fix and connect the two tracks with an included angle therebetween. Therefore, assembling of the shower door requires less time, thereby realizing quick and easy installation of the shower door and reducing the manufacturing and assembling costs of the shower door.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2015/071770 | 1/28/2015 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2016/119151 | 8/4/2016 | WO | A |
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| 20140331598 | White | Nov 2014 | A1 |
| 20160296079 | Wei | Oct 2016 | A1 |
| 20160353938 | Wei | Dec 2016 | A1 |
| 20160363150 | Schindler | Dec 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
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| 103519728 | Jan 2014 | CN |
| 203476960 | Mar 2014 | CN |
| 203515227 | Apr 2014 | CN |
| 103953267 | Jul 2014 | CN |
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| International Search Report for Application No. PCT/CN2015/071770 dated Nov. 9, 2015. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160362922 A1 | Dec 2016 | US |
