Height adjustment for a tub support

Abstract

A height adjustment mechanism for upright profiles (20) of a tub support (10) with a plurality of upright profiles (20), wherein cross-connecting profiles (30) are arranged between the upright profiles (20), comprises as an upright profile (20) a threaded rod (22) with an external thread and in a cross-connecting profile (30) a passage (40) for the threaded rod (22). The passage (40) has an internal thread corresponding to the external thread of the threaded rod (22) and the threaded rod (22) has a plurality of notches (23) transverse to its longitudinal axis that allow shearing above the passage (40).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a height adjustment for upright profiles of a tub support, for example for a shower tray or a bathtub, with a plurality of upright profiles, wherein cross-connecting profiles are arranged between the upright profiles. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] DE 103 58 622 B3 describes a bathtub support with a frame that is supported by a multitude of foot elements. The foot elements are each height-adjustable. The bathtub is then inserted into the bathtub support, which supports the bathtub at its edge.

[0003] EP 3 387 971 A1 shows a tub support in which intermediate support profiles for receiving crossbeams for supporting the base plate of a tub can be used in a height-adjustable manner.

[0004] US Patent 2011 / 0072576 A1 discloses a bathtub support in which an adjustable support leg comprises a threaded rod that is rotatably mounted at each corner of the bathtub support on a vertical upright profile and can be fixed at the desired height position by means of a nut. A flat connecting washer is provided on this threaded rod, onto which a silicone pad can be adhered before a bathtub is placed on these connecting washers and thus inserted into the frame of the bathtub support.

[0005] The applicant's EP 4 166 054 A1 describes a bathtub support with corner upright profiles between which cross-connecting profiles are arranged. Support surfaces can be placed on the corner upright profiles, onto which a bathtub is then inserted into the support. The corner upright profiles have a threaded rod at their lower ends that can be screwed into them, with a foot that rests on a base and can be rotated relative to the threaded rod, so that the corners are individually height-adjustable. In the case of further vertical upright profiles between the corners, these also have a corresponding height-adjustable foot, with a support surface on the opposite side of each.

[0006] A bathtub support is a frame structure with a surface running around the top edge of the frame, onto which a bathtub, designed to fit into the frame, can be placed, at least partially. In other words, a mostly one-piece element is recessed into the frame by placing it onto this surface. In the case of a shower tray or bathtub, the one-piece element, acting as the tub, does not protrude significantly above the flange-like edge, but it can also be a much taller component in the recessed area, in which case the frame and the recessed section form a plinth. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Based on this prior art, the invention aims to improve a bathtub support of the type mentioned above so that the height adjustment of individual upright profiles can be carried out more easily by a fitter.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by providing a height adjustment mechanism for the upright profiles of a bathtub support with a plurality of upright profiles, wherein cross-connecting profiles are arranged between the upright profiles, comprising a threaded rod with an external thread as the upright profile and a through-hole for the threaded rod in a cross-connecting profile. The through-hole has an internal thread corresponding to the external thread of the threaded rod, and the threaded rod has a plurality of notches transverse to its longitudinal axis that allow shearing above the through-hole.

[0009] This allows the correct height of the cross-connection profiles to be determined more easily, as standardized lengths of upright profiles can be used before the horizontality of the cross-connection profiles is simply measured and adjusted, whereby in case of deviations from this horizontality all individual upright profiles can be very easily readjusted before these upright profiles are then brought to a length that does not hinder the insertion of a tub in any way.

[0010] With such a height adjustment, the distance between two cutouts can be smaller than the distance between the top of the feedthrough and the plane of the cross-connection profile intended as a support surface for a tub to be inserted.

[0011] Advantageously, the design includes a quick-release nut, allowing for a rough height adjustment without rotating the threaded rod.

[0012] The quick-release nut as part of the feedthrough can be cuboid in shape and is then arranged to be displaceable in a at least partially hollow rail of the cross-connection profile in the longitudinal direction of the cross-connection profile, wherein the cross-connection profile has a longitudinal slot in the upper and lower sides for the threaded rod to pass through.

[0013] A lock nut can be provided on the threaded rod below the penetration in the cross-connection profile to pre-fix the height of the threaded rod.

[0014] The stand profile encompassing the threaded rod can have a support foot which has a receptacle for the lower free end of the threaded rod in which this lower free end can rotate freely.

[0015] Support elements for supporting the edge of the tub are provided on the upper ends of one or more cross-connection profiles.

[0016] Support elements for insulating support of the tub rim can be provided on the upper ends of one or more upright profiles, as such elements do not affect the preset height of the cross-connection profiles.

[0017] The height adjustment is also characterized by a method for adjusting the height of a tub support with a height adjustment according to one of the described claims, comprising the steps of passing the threaded rod of each stand profile through a passage in an associated cross-connection profile, adjusting the height of the upper surface of each cross-connection profile by adjusting the section of each threaded rod projecting beyond the passage, and shearing off a protruding upper section of each threaded rod in the passage.

[0018] Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve only for illustration and are not to be interpreted restrictively. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a bathtub support with upright profiles and cross-connection profiles according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of an enlarged section according to Fig. 1 of a cross-connecting profile with an inserted upright profile; Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view from Fig. 2 with a truncated upright profile at the top, without a section of the upright profile extending to the ground; Fig. 4 a schematic side view of the Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 a cutaway perspective view similar to Fig. 2 ; and Fig. 6 a schematic side view of a threaded rod of a stator profile. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0020] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a bathtub support 10 with upright profiles 20 and cross-connection profiles 30 according to an embodiment of the invention. The bathtub support 10 according to Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a rectangular tray with a longer longitudinal side and a shorter transverse side. Typical dimensions are, for example, 160 by 60 centimeters for a bathtub or, for example, square for a shower tray. The difference between the height settings for shower trays and bathtubs is usually the required length of the threaded rods 22 described below; longer for bathtubs, quite short for shower trays (see example). Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 The inventive principles explained below can be applied equally to support structures intended for differently shaped tubs, such as for an essentially triangular tub.

[0021] The tub support 10 comprises, in the case of a rectangular tub, a series of at least four interconnected transverse connecting profiles 30. Several transverse connecting profiles 30 may also be provided on each longitudinal or transverse side. Separate corner elements 31 may be provided in the horizontal frame of the tub support 10, or these may be connected to the transverse connecting profiles 30, optionally in one piece. The frame formed by the transverse connecting profiles 30 is supported by a series of upright profiles 20 against a surface in the Fig. 1 The cross-connection profiles 30 are supported on the ground (not shown). They have a height 21 above the ground, as indicated by the double arrow.

[0022] The upright profiles 20 include a threaded rod 22, which is located in a cutout in the Fig. 6 is shown in a side view. The threaded rod 22 has an external thread 23' and a sequence of cuts 23 in its longitudinal direction (see the section in the side view of the Fig. 6 It is longer than the maximum possible height 21 of the tub support 10, i.e., the height defined by the cross-connecting profiles 30, and advantageously has at least one sphere 22' on its underside. Each upright profile 20 also includes an attachable support foot 25. This serves to enlarge the contact surface of the upright profile 20 and simultaneously as a fixing aid. In particular, the support foot 25 can have the shape of a key, with a fixing area 26 and a threaded rod receptacle 27, as shown in the Fig. 2 The underside of the support foot 25 is flat to allow it to rest against a floor. The threaded rod receptacle 27 has an inner opening for receiving the threaded rod 22. The threaded rod 22 can rotate freely within this opening. The fixing area 26 may have an elongated hole 26' through which, for example, a screw can be inserted into a dowel embedded in the floor, thus fixing the support foot 5. Adjusting the height of the bathtub support is described below in connection with the Fig. 2 described. Once this height adjustment has been made, the wall fixings 32 are attached from the interior of the tub support to the surrounding side walls (where provided). The wall fixings 32 are designed here like the support feet 25, i.e., with a section that engages a tab end and an elongated fixing section 26 with a slotted hole 26' for fastening to a surrounding wall with a screw and, if necessary, dowels.

[0023] The Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an enlarged section after Fig. 1 from a cross-connecting profile 30 with an inserted upright profile 20. It is also referred to as Fig. 5 referred to, which is a cropped perspective view similar to Fig. 2 shows.

[0024] Essential for adjusting the height of a bathtub support 10 is the passage 40 through the cross-connection profile 30. The passage 40 can be designed as a quick-release nut 41, which, for example, is inserted as a cuboid 42 in the hollow rail 33 of the cross-connection profile 30. The cuboid 42 is longitudinally displaceable in the hollow rail 33 and can then be fixed by a lock nut 29, which allows the position of the threaded rod 22 arranged perpendicular to it to be adjusted. This rod can be positioned on the floor via the elongated hole 26' in the support foot 25.

[0025] It is in Fig. 1 It is clearly evident that the upright profiles 20 are not arranged in the corners, but along the cross-connection profiles 30. In an embodiment not shown in the drawings, a threaded rod 22 can also be provided as a corner upright profile if the feedthrough 40 is designed as a single unit with the corner element 31. The design of the feedthrough 40 with a quick-release nut 41 is not necessary, but is preferred, in order to achieve a rough height adjustment of the cross-connection profile 30 directly by tilting the threaded rod 22 and then pushing it forward or retracting it using the quick-release nut 41. Advantageously, the hollow rail has covers 34 in certain areas. The covers 34, or more generally, the upper surface of the cross-connection profiles 30, project beyond the threaded rod 20 and the feedthrough 40. They can be formed integrally with the cross-connection profiles 30.In other words, the surface of the cuboid 41 is considerably lower than the height of the surface of the cover 34. The height of the surface of the cover 34 defines the lower edge of the tub, which is then placed on the tub support.

[0026] The fine height adjustment of the individual cross-connection profiles 30 is achieved by rotating the respective threaded rod 22 in the quick-release nut 41. The lower section of the threaded rod 22, with its ball 22' at its lower end, rotates in the support foot 25. If the support foot has a fixing area 26, it is preferably rotated beforehand so that this fixing area 26 extends into the interior of the frame formed by the cross-connection profile 30. This results in a protruding section 28 of the threaded rod 22, which extends above the opening 40, above its surface 44, and in particular beyond the surface 35 of the cover 34.

[0027] The Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view from Fig. 2 with a stand profile 20 that has already been shortened at the top, with a section of the stand profile 20 that only extends briefly towards the floor for a shower tray. Fig. 4 The diagram shows the situation in a cross-section, where the thread orientation 43 of the quick-release nut 41 is represented by two lines indicated in the sense of a cross-section. Between the representations of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 The installer of the bathtub support sheared off the protruding section 28 of the threaded rod 22, which extends upwards from the quick-release nut 41, within the framework of the cross-connection profile 30 by rocking it back and forth in the quick-release nut 41. A notch 23 was first made as close as possible to the surface 44 of the feedthrough. The shearing can be carried out using pliers applied there or by placing a pipe on the threaded rod and moving the tool / threaded rod back and forth in the direction of the arrows shown on the surface in the figures. An upper surface 24 of the threaded rod 22 then exists, which lies specifically below the surface 35 of the cover 34 but above the surface 44 of the feedthrough 40. The surface of the cover 34 is represented by the dashed surface plane 35.The threaded rod 22 can then be finely adjusted by rotating it, which can also include retracting it into the feedthrough. This allows any desired height to be set, depending on the distance between two adjacent notches 23 in the threaded rod 22, provided this distance is small enough that the threaded rod 22 neither protrudes above the surface 35 nor disappears completely into the thread of the quick-release nut.

[0028] The exact height position of the tub support 10, determined by the surface 35 of the cross-connection profile 30, is then set by the lock nut 29.

[0029] Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a threaded rod 22 of a stanchion profile 20 with regularly spaced notches 23, which are provided as predetermined breaking points, particularly at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the threaded rod 22. These notches 23 are sufficiently deep for easier shearing, but sufficiently shallow to ensure a rigid threaded rod 22. After assembly, this rod is connected to, in this example, the Fig. 1 eight upright profiles 20 are no longer significantly subjected to lateral forces. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0030] 10 Shower or bathtub support 20 Stand profile 21 Height 22 Threaded rod 22 Ball 23 Cut 23 External thread 24 Top surface 25 Support foot 26 Fixing area 26 Slotted hole 27 Threaded rod receptacle 28 Protruding area 29 Lock nut 30 Cross-connection profile 31 Corner element 32 Wall fixing 33 Hollow rail 34 Cover 35 Surface plane 40 Feedthrough 41 Quick-release nut 42 Cuboid 43 Thread alignment 44 Feedthrough surface

Claims

1. Height adjustment for upright profiles (20) of a tub support (10) with a plurality of upright profiles (20), wherein cross-connecting profiles (30) are arranged between the upright profiles (20), characterized by the fact that a support profile (20) has a threaded rod (22) with an external thread (23'), a cross-connection profile (30) includes a passage (40) for the threaded rod (22), the passage (40) has an internal thread corresponding to the external thread (23') of the threaded rod (22), and the threaded rod (22) has a plurality of notches (23) transverse to its longitudinal axis that allow shearing above the passage (40).

2. Height adjustment according to claim 1, wherein the distance between two incisions (23) is less than the distance between the center of the internal thread of the passage (40) adjacent to the top (44) of the passage (40) and the plane of the surface (35) of the cross-connection profile (40) provided as a support surface for a tray to be inserted.

3. Height adjustment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the passage (40) comprises a quick-release nut (41).

4. Height adjustment according to claim 3, wherein the quick-release nut (41) of the feedthrough (40) is cuboid and is displaceable in a at least partially hollow rail of the cross-connection profile (30) in the longitudinal direction of the cross-connection profile (30), wherein the cross-connection profile (30) has a longitudinal slot in the upper and lower sides in the longitudinal direction of the cross-connection profile (30) for the threaded rod (22) to pass through.

5. Height adjustment according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a lock nut (29) is provided on the threaded rod (22) below the passage (40) in the cross-connection profile (40).

6. Height adjustment according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the stand profile (20) comprising the threaded rod (22) has a support foot (25) which has a receptacle for the lower free end (23') of the threaded rod (22) in which this lower free end (23') is freely rotatable.

7. Height adjustment according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein support elements for supporting the tub rim are provided on the upper ends of one or more cross-connection profiles (30).

8. Method for adjusting the height of a bathtub support with a height adjustment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps of: passing the threaded rod (22) of each upright profile (20) through a passage (40) in an associated cross-connection profile (30); adjusting the height (21) of the upper surface (35) of each cross-connection profile (30) by adjusting the section (28) of each threaded rod (22) projecting beyond the passage (40); shearing off each threaded rod (22) of the upright profile (20) above the passage (40).

9. Method according to claim 8, with the additional step after shearing off the fine adjustment of the height by rotating the threaded rod (22) in the passage (40).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the fact thatAdjusting the height includes coarse adjustment by using a quick-release nut (41) in the opening (40) by tilting the threaded rod (22) of the stand profile (20) in the quick-release nut (41).

11. Method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by the fact that The position of the threaded rod (22) in the passage (40) is fixed by a lock nut (29) provided below the passage (40) on the threaded rod (22).

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