Molded ready-to-tile shower bases with associated trenches and drains

Abstract

In one embodiment a shower pan is comprised of a floor, one or more sidewalls and a recessed trough, which are all manufactured simultaneously to form a water proof module. Other features, such as one or more curbs, may be integrated into the pan during manufacture by modifying the molding tool. In another embodiment, a variety of pre-manufactured trenches to act as stand alone linear drains which can be combined with shower pan components after manufacture are disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]N / A.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to showers and other drainable structures, and associated drains and trenches, and more particularly to ready-to-tile molded leak proof shower pans with a molded trench (as herein defined) or prefabricated trench (as herein defined) and a standard drain (as herein defined) attached to the bottom of such trench.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]In the design and manufacture of shower bases, it is necessary to provide means by which water can be directed to one or more drain openings by gravity. This is done by way of pitching, or sloping, the floor surface(s) from higher to lower positions on the pan floor, the lower position(s) coinciding with the drain location(s). Given the myriad possible drain locations for any given shower arrangement, it has heretofore been necessary to create an entirely different tool for each drain...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes various ways to integrate a trench drain with a prefabricated shower pan. This allows for the drain to be formed during manufacture of the shower pan, or to be added later in the field. The drain can be integrally formed with the shower pan or a separate prefabricated standard drain body can be added. The drain can be recessed into the shower pan floor or the pan can have a floor with a drain aperture. The drain can be covered with a removable or interchangeable trench cover that blends into the flooring material of the shower pan. The cover allows water to drain into the trench and can also have a gap to allow liquid to flow into the drain. The technical effects of this patent include improved drainage and more efficient manufacturing of shower pans.

Problems solved by technology

However, such arrangements are expensive, and it is commonplace for leaks to develop at the connections between (a) the trench drain and the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan, (b) the trench drain and the partially prefabricated shower pan, (c) any other seams in the mortar bed or other handmade shower pan, and (d) any other seams in the partially prefabricated shower pan, rendering such non-unitarily manufactured arrangements highly undesirable.

Likewise, there are no ready-to-tile partially prefabricated shower pans on the market today with (a) a standalone standard drain and a prefabricated trench as two components of a partially prefabricated shower pan assembly, (b) a prefabricated trench and a standard drain attached thereto as a single component of a prefabricated shower pan assembly, and (c) a prefabricated trench or a molded trench incorporated into a partially prefabricated shower pan floor to which a standalone standard drain is attached.

Similarly, a standalone standard drain and a prefabricated trench is not available on the market today for use in a mortar bed or other handmade shower pan.

Most existing stand alone trench drains are made of metal as an integrated unit and approved as such under various plumbing codes and have the actual floor drain hookup integrated as part thereof, resulting in a prohibitively expensive product.

Existing technology does not permit this kind of flexibility in connection with molded or prefabricated trenches and standalone standard drains used in connection with ready-to-tile prefabricated shower pans, ready-to-tile partially prefabricated shower pans, ready-to-tile mortar bed or other handmade shower pans, and non tileable shower pan trenches.

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