Apparatus and method for sloped shower floors

Abstract

A variable length arm and devices to locate the inner end and outer end of the arm to set the slope of a pre-slope floor and to set the thickness of a base floor to receive tile are used in a method to create the floors.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to Provisional Application U.S. 60 / 898,391 filed Jan. 30, 2007 and this Provisional application is incorporated herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to the construction of sloped floors and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for the construction of showers and preparing the sloped surface for tile.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Sloped floors, and particularly shower floors, are installed in most cases with the slope being determined by the eye of the installer. There is no known apparatus or method for consistently creating a sloped floor, especially a shower floor, with accurate and inexpensive tools and a consistent method.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0004]The method of this invention involves simple and easily followed steps employing the apparatus of the invention. The method results in a uniformly sloped floor for easy covering with tile.[0005]One embodiment of the apparat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The method of this invention involves simple and easily followed steps employing the apparatus of the invention. The method results in a uniformly sloped floor for easy covering with tile.

[0006]The apparatus further includes an adjustable length arm having a first hollow arm attachable to the hub and a second telescoping arm inside or outside the first arm. The first arm is attachable to the circular hub and may be made of stainless steel or other rigid durable material. This arm has a rectangular cross-section and is slightly larger in cross-section then the second arm where the second arm telescopes inside the first arm. This arm being hollow receives the telescoping arm which may be made of ultra-high, molecular-weight plastic material or some other rigid durable material, preferably a material that easily slides relative to the first arm. A slot is provided in the side of the telescoping arm which cooperates with a protrusion inside the hollow arm to limit the travel of the telescoping arm in the first arm. The first arm has a bar across the inner end that is attached to the hub. The hub has a hook attached to the exterior for cooperating with the rod in the first arm to hold the adjustable arm in place.

[0029]The wall of the angle has the upper vertical portion and an inwardly curving bottom portion extending from the vertical portion. In the construction of a shower, the curved portion rests on the shower liner. The bottom portion of the wall is curved to avoid damage to the liner. The distance from the edge of the curved portion to the top surface of the first shelf is the desired thickness of the base floor, which results from the dry-pack mud.

Problems solved by technology

There is no known apparatus or method for consistently creating a sloped floor, especially a shower floor, with accurate and inexpensive tools and a consistent method.

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