SHOWER TRAY STABILIZERS

Abstract

This stabilizing foot, particularly for shower trays, comprises a base (1) suitable for positioning, or even fixing, to the floor. This base (1) is provided with a vertical threaded bore into which a cylindrical support for the shower tray can be screwed or unscrewed, allowing for height adjustment of the tray. The flat upper face of the cylindrical support receives a sliding device (7) provided with at least one freely rotatable ball bearing, on which the shower tray is positioned and can slide. (See Figure 5 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: STABILIZERS FOR SHOWER TRAYS Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of shower trays or tubs, and more specifically to the feet or supports on which such shower trays are received. Prior state of the art

[0002] Shower trays are traditionally made of a single piece, usually stone or other material, and are generally square or rectangular in shape, with a relatively high weight. Positioning such trays therefore requires handling by at least one or two people, often in confined spaces. These trays are traditionally placed on feet or supports to ensure they are perfectly level, thus facilitating water drainage through a bottom drain. Furthermore, a silicone sealant ensures the tray is watertight against the wall or partition against which it is positioned.

[0003] Such supports were initially made using building elements such as bricks, cinder blocks, or other materials, fixed both to the base with cement or mortar and to the shower tray. These supports, which must be able to support not only the weight of the shower tray itself but also that of one or more users, have evolved and are typically now made up of a base, designed to be placed on or even fixed to the floor. This base has a threaded hole for receiving a support for the shower tray itself. This support is cylindrical in shape and has an external thread that engages with the threads in the base, allowing for height adjustment.

[0004] However, the difficulty with this type of support lies in achieving the required flatness of the shower tray, which necessitates several manipulations of the tray to allow the support to be screwed or unscrewed into the base, generating increased fatigue for the installers and even musculoskeletal disorders. Indeed, one or more of these supports require adjustment to obtain the desired flatness, and these supports can prove difficult to access, particularly in a bathroom corner, complicating the installers' work.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to facilitate these handling operations of such receivers during their installation. Description of the invention

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a stabilizing foot, in particular for shower trays, comprising a base suitable for being positioned, or even fixed on the floor, provided with a vertical threaded bore in which a cylindrical support proper to said tray can be screwed or unscrewed, and allowing an adjustable height adjustment of the latter.

[0007] According to the invention, the flat upper face of the cylindrical support itself receives a sliding device provided with at least one ball mounted freely in rotation, on which the receiver is positioned, and is capable of sliding.

[0008] In other words, the invention consists of equipping the known stabilizing feet with a body or device enabling the receiver to slide on said stabilizing feet, in order to facilitate its handling and manipulation during the installation and height adjustment of the stabilizing feet in question.

[0009] According to a first embodiment of the invention, this sliding device is fixed by means of a double-sided adhesive to the upper surface of the cylindrical support itself, the free face of said double-sided adhesive receiving the sliding device.

[0010] Alternatively, the sliding device and the cylindrical support constitute a single piece, said sliding device being welded, for example thermally, to the upper surface of said cylindrical support, when these two elements are made of plastic material.

[0011] According to yet another alternative of the invention, the sliding device is provided with a pin emanating from its lower face, and provided with a means suitable for clipping it into an orifice of suitable diameter, provided within the upper surface of the cylindrical support.

[0012] This sliding device comprises, for example, a ball mounted freely for rotation and received within a housing provided for this purpose. Alternatively, it may comprise several balls, and typically four, flush in the same horizontal plane, also mounted freely for rotation and received in as many housings as necessary.

[0013] Advantageously, the stabilizing foot and the sliding device are made of plastic material, for example polypropylene, and the balls are made of stainless steel.

[0014] According to one variant, the balls can also be made of relatively hard plastic material because of the load they are required to bear, and for example of polyamide 6-6 (better known under the generic term nylon). Brief description of the figures

[0015] The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the resulting advantages will be more apparent from the following example of implementation, given by way of illustration and not limitation, in support of the attached figures.

[0016] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a stabilizer for a shower tray, in which the actual support of the tray is in the upper position.

[0017] [Fig.2] is a view analogous to [Fig.1] in which the actual support of the receiver is in a lower position.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective representation of the sliding device according to the invention.

[0019] Fig. 4 illustrates the double-sided adhesive used to fix the sliding device onto the cylindrical support.

[0020] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective representation of the stabilizing foot of the invention equipped with the sliding device.

[0021] [Fig.6] is a view analogous to [Fig.1] according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0022] Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the sliding device of the invention adaptable to the stabilizing foot of Fig. 6; Detailed description of the invention

[0023] Figures 1 and 2 therefore represent a stabilizing foot, in particular for a shower tray.

[0024] This device fundamentally comprises a base (1), intended to be placed, or even fixed, to the ground on which the receiver is to be installed, for example by screwing it into slots (2) provided around the periphery of the base. In this case, the base is substantially pyramidal or frustoconical in shape. However, it could adopt any shape as long as it fulfills its primary function of stabilization.

[0025] This base (1) has a vertical bore provided with a tapping and intended to cooperate with a cylindrical support of the receiver itself (3), provided on its periphery with a thread (4) suitable for cooperating with the tapping of the bore of the base (1).

[0026] Thus, the cylindrical support (3) is adjustable in height by simply screwing or unscrewing within the tapped bore with which the base is provided.

[0027] According to a first embodiment, the upper face (11) of the cylindrical support (3) receives a platform (5), which is movable in rotation in a horizontal plane.

[0028] According to the invention, and according to the illustrated example, a double-sided adhesive (6) is fixed to this platform and, on the upper face of the double-sided adhesive, a sliding device (7).

[0029] This sliding device (7) includes a lower flat base (10), intended to be glued to the upper face of the double-sided adhesive (6). Said base (10) has on its opposite face rigid housings (9), in this case four, capable of receiving balls (8) made of stainless steel and mounted freely for rotation within the housings (9) provided for this purpose, like a bearing or a ball bearing.

[0030] Typically, the base (1), the cylindrical support (3) and the base (10) at least of the sliding device are made of plastic material, and for example of polypropylene.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the invention, the platform (5) is not implemented, and the sliding device (7) is directly attached to the upper face (11) of the cylindrical support (3), either by implementing a double-sided adhesive, or by directly welding the base (10) of the sliding device onto said upper surface (11).

[0032] According to yet another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the lower face (13) of the base (10) of the sliding device (7) is provided with a pin (14) emanating from the center of said lower face (13), and provided with clips (15) adapted to cooperate with an opening (12) formed in the center of the upper surface (11) of the cylindrical support (3). Thus, the sliding device (7) can be simply clipped or unclipped from said support.

[0033] The balls (8) of the sliding device can be made of stainless steel or alternatively of polyamide 6-6.

[0034] According to an unrepresented variant, the four balls are replaced by a single ball, of larger diameter taking into account the load to be received, but operating according to the same principle as the embodiments described above.

[0035] Thus, when a shower tray is to be positioned in a dedicated location, the installer(s) first position the stabilizing feet of the invention and possibly fix them to the floor by simply screwing them in through the lights (2).

[0036] Then, they simply slide said receiver on the sliding devices (7), thus drastically limiting the efforts required to allow height adjustment of said stabilizing feet by screwing or unscrewing the cylindrical support (3) within the base (1).

[0037] Thus, when the flatness of the receiver is not correct, it is sufficient to remove said receiver by simply sliding it on the stabilizing feet equipped with the device the invention and, screw or unscrew the cylindrical supports until the required flatness is achieved.

[0038] We can therefore understand the full advantage of the stabilizing foot of the invention, which facilitates the handling and manipulation of shower trays, and thus reduces the strain on operators.

Claims

Demands

1. Stabilizing foot, in particular for shower tray, comprising a base (1) suitable for being positioned, or even fixed, on the floor, said base (1) being provided with a vertical tapped bore in which a cylindrical support (3) proper of said tray can be screwed or unscrewed, and allowing an adjustable height adjustment of the latter, characterized in that the flat upper face (11) of the cylindrical support (3) receives a sliding device (7) provided with at least one ball (8) mounted freely for rotation, on which the tray is positioned, and is capable of sliding.

2. Stabilizing foot according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding device (7) is fixed by means of a double-sided adhesive (6), respectively attached to the upper surface of the cylindrical support (3) and to the base (10) of said sliding device.

3. Stabilizing foot according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding device (7) is welded by its base (10) to the upper surface (11) of the cylindrical support (3).

4. Stabilizing foot according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding device (7) is provided with a pin (14) emanating from the lower face (13) of its base (10), and provided with means (15) suitable for allowing its clipping into an orifice (12) of suitable diameter, provided within the upper surface (11) of the cylindrical support (3).

5. Stabilizing foot according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sliding device (7) comprises four balls (8) mounted freely in rotation and received within housings (9) provided for this purpose.

6. Stabilizing foot according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sliding device (7) comprises a ball mounted freely in rotation and received within a housing provided for this purpose.

7. Stabilizing foot according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base (1) and the cylindrical support (3) are made of plastic material, and in particular of polypropylene.

8. Stabilizing foot according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ball or balls (8) are made of stainless steel.

9. Stabilizing foot according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ball or balls (8) are made of polyamide 6-6 (nylon).

Images