Improved shower screen hinge seal

Abstract

A shower screen hinge seal 10 is disclosed, that is positioned within the barrel 11, 19 of the hinge to seal with the seal 14 at the bottom of the screen or door. It has a shaped body, tapering from an enlarged end to be located within a barrel 11, 19 of the screen hinge, to a narrow end which extends outside of the barrel to seal to a seal 14 extending along a bottom edge of the screen. The shape of the body may be triangular, and the upper surface may be smaller than the lower surface. There may be a slot 23 extending from the narrow end to the large end in which the seal extending along the bottom of the screen is slotted into. The slot may be at an angle and there may be more than one. The seal may integrally formed with the seal extending along the bottom edge of the shower screen, or it may be separate. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure, where the hinge assembly comprises the seal, is also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of shower screen hinges and seals and more particularly to a shower screen hinge seal for maintaining the integrity of a shower screen seal at the base of the shower screen hinge. Background to the Invention Shower screens comprising a solid screen, typically glass, which is attached to a wall via one or more hinges are well known in the art. It is also well known to provide a flexible strip seal at the base of a screen to sealably mate with a water receptacle, typically a bath tub or a shower tray. The strip seal is attached along the bottom edge of the screen and is sufficiently flexible to provide a wiping contact with the edge of the water receptacle when the screen is moved from an open position to a closed position. Due to the movement of the shower screen relative to the water receptacle, there is relative movement of the seal relative to the stationary part of the hinge and water escape is possible. The present invention seeks to provide an improved way of attaching a shower screen seal to a shower screen hinge. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shower screen hinge seal comprising a shaped body tapering from an enlarged end configured to be located within a barrel of the screen hinge, to a narrow end which extends outside of the barrel to seal to a seal extending along a bottom edge of the screen. In this aspect, the shaped body may have at least one slot opening extending from the narrow end towards the enlarged end to receive a portion of a lower leaf or sweep seal which extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the screen. The shaped body may be generally triangular in plan. The shaped body may have an upper and a lower surface and a pair of side faces. The upper, lower and one or more of the side faces may be planar. One or more of the upper, lower and one or more of the side faces may be angled. For example, in one form, the upper and lower faces of the shaped body may be planar and substantially parallel to one another. Each of the upper and lower faces may be substantially triangular in shape. A flattened forward end may be provided at the narrow end. An arcuate end wall may be provided at the enlarged end. This may match an internal configuration of the hinge barrel. The side faces may be planar from the upper surface to the lower surface. In another form, the upper surface may be smaller than the lower surface which may be larger. The lower surface may be convex downwardly rather than planar. The side surfaces may diverge or widen from the upper surface to the lower surface. In this form, the shaped body is larger at the lower side than at the upper side. The slot opening may be angled relative the vertical axis of the body. The slot opening may be angled from the top of the body away from a midline of the body as the slot extends downwardly. An angled slot may allow for deformation of the leaf or sweep seal during movement of the screen between the open and closed positions. More than one slot opening may be provided. A central wedge structure may be provided to define a slot on either lateral side of the midline of the body and to define the angle of the respective slots. The central wedge structure may be wider at the base than at an upper side. A single opening may be provided in the upper surface of the shaped body which may lead to two slots which are angled downwardly and away from the midline of the shaped body. A rebate may be provided in at least one side of a lower surface of the shaped body to provide clearance for a laterally extending portion of the lower leaf or sweep seal whilst the downwardly depending portion is received in one of the slots. According to this aspect, the shower screen hinge seal may be provided separately from the lower leaf or sweep seal which extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the screen but is mountable relative to the hinge barrel and the lower leaf or sweep seal which extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the screen to seal between these two components. An enlarged portion may be provided on at least one outer wall of the shaped body extending outwardly from the at least one outer wall. Preferably, an enlarged portion may be provided on both outer walls of the shaped body. The enlarged portion is preferably positioned to abut an edge portion of the hinge barrel relative to which the hinge seal is mounted, so that the hinge barrel can seal more effectively against the enlarged portion. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a shower screen hinge seal comprising a shaped body tapering from an enlarged end configured to be located within a barrel of the screen hinge, to a narrow end which extends outside of the barrel and a lower screen seal extending along a bottom edge of the screen. In this form, the shaped body and the lower seal are integrally formed or unitary. The unitary seal of this form may have any one or more of the features of the first aspect in which the hinge seal and the lower edge seal for the shower screen are provided separately and configured for juxtaposition relative to one another to seal. In a preferred unitary form, the upper surface of the shaped body may be smaller than the lower surface which may be larger. The lower surface may be convex downwardly rather than planar. The side surfaces may diverge or widen from the upper surface to the lower surface. In this form, the shaped body is larger at the lower side than at the upper side. The shaped body can be smaller in the unitary form as the upper side of the shaped body may be located below a portion of the sealing channel which mounts the lower screen seal to the screen. The forward or smaller end of the shaped body may be integrally formed with the lower seal of the shower screen. The lower seal of the shower screen may have two portions namely a channel to receive a lower edge of the show screen and a depending lower leaf or sweep seal. The channel may preferably have a U-shape with a pair of spaced apart side walls, one side wall positioned on the inside of the shower screen and the other positioned on the outside of the shower screen, and a lower linking wall which is positioned below the lower edge of the shower screen. The channel will preferably be resilient, requiring deformation to locate the channel over the edge of the shower screen and to retain itself there. The lower leaf or sweep seal will preferably depend from the lower linking wall. The lower leaf or sweep seal may extend from substantially centrally across the lower linking wall. The lower leaf or sweep seal will preferably depend substantially perpendicularly from the lower linking wall. The lower leaf or sweep seal may include a downwardly depending portion with the lower portion comprising the seal to abut the water receptacle. In another form, the lower leaf or sweep seal may include a downwardly depending portion and a laterally extending portion to abut the water receptacle. An end (inner end) of the downwardly depending portion and / or laterally extending portion facing the hinge may be angled. For example, the inner end of the downwardly depending portion may be angled outwardly from an upper side to a lower side. The shower screen hinge seal of the invention may be used with a screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure. The screen hinge assembly may comprise a wall channel which is attachable to a wall adjacent to a water receptacle; a hinge barrel rotatably attached to the wall channel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis between a closed position and an open position; a screen attached to the barrel; and a lower seal extending along a bottom edge of the screen, the lower seal comprising a flexible blade configured to make a wiping contact with an edge of the water receptacle in use. The hinge barrel may include a main hinge body and opposing end parts preferably referred to as a hinge base and hinge top. The hinge base and hinge top may be an integral part of the hinge main body in some embodiments, or separate parts which are attached to the main body by snug insertion or some other suitable attachment. The hinge barrel is preferably mounted for rotation relative to a pair of spindle formations, which may be either male or female and define between them an axis of rotation about which the barrel can rotate such that the screen can be moved between an open position and a closed position, typically either into or away from a water receptacle. The main hinge body may be cylindrical. The main hinge body may be hollow and a corresponding portion of each of the hinge base and hinge top may be inserted into the hollow main hinge body. The main hinge body may comprise an opening or gap in a sidewall in a lower part thereof. Opposed edges of the opening or gap preferably form a pair of opposing jaws between which the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal is received. The jaws may comprise a flared inlet for receiving the shower screen hinge seal. The hinge base may include a seating opening or depression therein to receive the shower screen hinge seal. In assembly, the shower screen hinge seal may be seated in the seating opening or depression in the hinge base and the hinge base can then be inserted into the lower end of the main hinge body aligned with the preferred opening or gap in a sidewall to that the jaws abut and seal against an outer portion of the sidewalls of the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal. In the unitary form, the lower edge seal and shower screen hinge seal may be mounted to the shower screen and then the hinge base fitted relative thereto before the fitting to the main hinge body. The hinge barrel may engage with the wall channel via a spindle. The spindle may comprise either a male or female part appended to the wall channel and the other of the male or female part provided by the hinge barrel. The spindle may be configured to allow degree of rotation greater than 90 degrees between the closed and open positions. The degree of rotation may be less than 120 degrees between the closed and fully open positions. The screen may open on either side of the closed position such that the full extent between the open positions on either side of the screen is between 180 and 240 degrees. The shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal may extend downwardly from beneath the bottom edge of the screen panel. The bottom of the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal may be coplanar with the lower side of the downwardly depending portion or laterally extending portion of the sweep seal. The rotatable attachment between the barrel and wall channel may be provided by an end plate of the wall channel. The spindle will preferably be provided on an end plate. The spindle and an underside of the hinge base will preferably be correspondingly shaped and configured to allow rotation. The spindle may include a receiving opening defined by a raised skirt. The underside of the hinge base may include a cylindrical extension to be received in the receiving opening, surrounded by an annular depression to receive the raised skirt. A shower screen hinge seal seating structure may be provided extending on one lateral side of the hinge base. The seating opening or depression therein to receive the shower screen hinge seal is preferably provided as a part of the shower screen hinge seal seating structure. A pair of spaced apart wall portions may be provided extending downwardly from an underside of the hinge base. In use, a lower surface of the pair of spaced apart wall portions are preferably coplanar with an underside of the spindle and end plate. An inner surface (surface facing the spindle) is preferably arcuate to correspond to a preferred shape of an outermost peripheral edge of the end plate (the edge furthest from the wall channel). The axis of rotation of the hinge barrel is preferably eccentric positioned relative to an outermost peripheral edge of the end plate (the edge furthest from the wall channel). A gap between the outermost peripheral edge of the end plate and the adjacent radially inner edge of the spindle relative to which an end of the shower screen hinge seal is mounted is smallest when in the closed position. Preferably, the outermost peripheral edge of the end plate may abut, and / or may preferably apply force against an end face of the shower screen hinge seal when the shower screen is in the closed position. This abutment may force the sidewalls of the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal against the jaws of the hinge barrel and against the seating opening or depression in the hinge base to better seal these components against the ingress of water. The receiving opening and raised skirt of the spindle are preferably eccentrically mounted relative to the outermost peripheral edge of the end plate, positioned closer to the wall channel than to the outermost peripheral edge of the end plate. The configuration of the hinge base preferably corresponds with the configuration of the spindle so that the outermost peripheral edge of the end plate can apply force against an inner surface of the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal to increase the sealing force against the main hinge body and the seating opening or depression in the hinge base. The spindle may also be shaped in the vertical direction to have at least one depressed region and at least one elevated region. In use, a portion of the hinge base may seat in the at least one depressed region when the shower screen is in the closed position. A smooth transition may be provided between the at least one depressed region and at least one elevated region. Detailed Description of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an axonometric exploded view of a shower screen hinge and seal assembly including a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment. Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a shower screen hinge assembly for use with a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment. Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the lower end plate and spindle illustrated in Figure 2 with the hinge barrel removed. Figure 4 is an inverted axonometric view of the hinge barrel illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 5 is an axonometric exploded bottom view of a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment and a lower edge seal for a shower screen. Figure 6      is an assembled view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 7      is an axonometric end view of a lower edge seal for a shower screen. Figure 8 is an axonometric end view of a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment. Figure 9 is an axonometric view of a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment. Figure 10 is an axonometric view of the shower screen hinge seal illustrated in Figure 9 mounted to a lower edge seal for a shower screen. Figure 11 Is an axonometric view of the configuration shown in Figure 10 mounted to a hinge assembly. 5 Figure 12 is an axonometric view from the bottom of a shower hinge assembly. Figure 13 is an axonometric exploded view of the shower hinge assembly shown in Figure 12 with a unitary lower seal including a shower screen hinge seal. 10 Figure 14 is an axonometric assembled view of the configuration shown in Figure 13. Figure 15 is an axonometric exploded bottom view of an end plate, hinge base and unitary lower seal including a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment. 15 Figure 16 is an axonometric underside view of a hinge base and lower seal including a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment. Figure 17 is an axonometric view of an upper side of an end plate and spindle corresponding to the configuration shown in Figure 16. 20 Figure 18 is an axonometric underside view of an end plate, hinge base and lower seal including a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment in the closed position. Figure 19 is an axonometric underside view of the configuration shown in Figure 18 in the open position. Figure 20 is an axonometric exploded view of an end plate, hinge base and lower seal including a shower screen hinge seal of an embodiment. 25 Figure 21 is an axonometric exploded view of the lower seal including a shower screen hinge seal as illustrated in Figure 20. Figure 22 is an axonometric assembled view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 20. Illustrated in Figure 1 is a shower screen hinge seal 10 used with a screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure (not shown). The screen hinge assembly illustrated includes a wall channel (removed from Figure 1 to show the end plate) which is attachable to a wall adjacent to a water receptacle, a hinge barrel rotatably attached to the wall channel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis between a closed position and an open position, a screen (not shown) attached to the barrel; and a lower seal 12 extending along a bottom edge of the screen. In Figure 1, the lower seal 12 includes a U-shaped channel 13 to receive the lower edge of the shower screen and a L-shaped flexible blade 14 configured to make a wiping contact with an edge of the water receptacle in use. The hinge barrel may include a main hinge body 11 and opposing end parts preferably referred to as a hinge base 16 and hinge top (not shown). The hinge barrel is mounted for rotation relative to a pair of spindle formations 17 (best illustrated in Figure 3), one provided on each of the upper and lower end plates 15 which define between them an axis of rotation about which the hinge barrel can rotate such that the screen can be moved between an open position and a closed position, typically either into or away from a water receptacle. As illustrated, the main hinge body 11 is cylindrical and hollow and a corresponding portion of the hinge base 16 is inserted into the hollow main hinge body 11. As shown in Figure 1, a lower part of the main hinge body 11 comprise a gap 18 in a sidewall thereof. Opposed edges of the gap 18 form a pair of opposing jaws between which the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal 10 is received. The jaws may comprise a flared portion 21 for receiving the shower screen hinge seal 10. In Figure 1, the main hinge body includes a flared portion with a pair of spaced apart wall portions 19 which holds the shower screen hinge seal 10. In Figures 2 to 4, the configuration is slightly different with the shower screen hinge seal 10 received within a skirt extending about the lower side of the hinge base 16 and extends out of gap 18. Figures 2 and 4 also show a slot 22 in the main hinge body 11 into which a lateral edge of a shower screen is received. The shower screen hinge seal 10 shown in Figure 1 includes a triangular shaped body, tapering from an enlarged end configured to be located within the main hinge body 11, to a narrow end which extends outside of the main hinge body 11 to seal to an underside of the channel 13 and to the L-shaped flexible blade 14 extending along a bottom edge of the screen. The shaped body has a slot opening 23extending from the narrow end towards the enlarged end to receive a portion of the L-shaped flexible blade 14 which extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the screen. A lower part of the slot opening 23 is bifurcated or separated into two angled slots, one on either lateral side of a central wedge 24 The shaped body is triangular in plan. In the form illustrated in Figure 1, the upper and lower faces of the shaped body are planar and substantially parallel to one another. Each of the upper and lower faces are substantially triangular in shape. A flattened forward end may be provided at the narrow end as shown in Figure 9. An arcuate end wall 24 (inner end wall) may be provided at the enlarged end. This may match an internal configuration of the hinge barrel. The side faces are planar from the upper surface to the lower surface. In another form such as that illustrated in Figure 15, the upper surface may be smaller than the lower surface which may be larger. The lower surface may be convex downwardly rather than planar. The side surfaces may diverge or widen from the upper surface to the lower surface. In this form, the shaped body is larger at the lower side than at the upper side. As shown in Figures 5 and 8 in particular, the central wedge 24 defines a slot 26 on either lateral side of the midline of the body and to define the angle of the respective slots 26. The central wedge 24 is wider at the base than at an upper side. A single slot 23 is provided in the upper surface of the shaped body which leads to two slots 26 which are angled downwardly and away from the midline of the shaped body. As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the flexible blade may have an L-shape with a depending portion 28 and return portion 29. A rebate 27 may be provided in at least one side of a lower surface of the shaped body to provide clearance for a laterally extending return portion 29 whilst the downwardly depending portion 28 is received in one of the slots 26. As shown in Figures 9 to 11, an enlarged portion 30 may be provided on each outer wall of the shower screen hinge seal 10 extending outwardly from the outer wall. The enlarged portion 30 is positioned to abut an edge portion of the wall portion of the main hinge body 11 relative to which the hinge seal 10 is mounted, so that the main hinge body 11 can seal more effectively against the enlarged portions 30. According to the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, the shower screen hinge seal 10 is provided separately from the lower seal 12 which extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the screen and is mountable relative to the hinge barrel and the lower seal 12 to seal between these two components. According to another aspect shown in Figures 12 to 22, the shower screen hinge seal 10 is provided integrally formed with the lower screen seal 12 extending along a bottom edge of the screen. In a preferred unitary form illustrated in Figure 13, the upper surface of the shower screen hinge seal 10 is smaller than the lower surface which is larger. The lower surface shown in Figure 15 is convex downwardly rather than planar. The side surfaces diverge or widen from the upper surface to the lower surface. In this form, the shower screen hinge seal 10 is larger at the lower side than at the upper side. The shower screen hinge seal 10 can be smaller in the unitary form as the upper side of the shaped body is located below a portion of the channel 13 as shown in Figure 15, which mounts the lower screen seal to the screen. As shown, the forward or smaller end of the shaped body is integrally formed with the lower seal 12 of the shower screen. The hinge base 16 includes a seating opening or depression therein between the wall portions 19 to receive the shower screen hinge seal 10. In assembly, the shower screen hinge seal may be seated in the seating opening or depression in the hinge base 16 and the hinge base 16 can then be inserted into the lower end of the main hinge body 11 aligned with the preferred opening or gap 18 in the sidewall to that the jaws abut and seal against an outer portion of the sidewalls of the shower screen hinge seal 10. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the hinge base 16 engages with the wall channel via a spindle 17 which is provide integrally or as a part of the end plate 15. As shown, the spindle 17 and an underside of the hinge base 16 will correspond in shaped and configuration to allow rotation. As illustrated in Figures 16 and 17, the spindle 17 includes a receiving opening 31 defined by a raised skirt 32. The underside of the hinge base 16 includes a cylindrical extension 33 to be received in the receiving opening 31, surrounded by an annular depression 34 to receive the raised skirt 32. The pair of spaced apart wall portions 19 extend downwardly from an underside of the hinge base 16. In use, a lower surface of the pair of spaced apart wall portions 16 is preferably coplanar with an underside of the end plate 15 as shown in Figure 18 and 19. The arcuate inner surface 25 of the shower screen hinge seal 10 corresponds to a preferred shape of an outermost peripheral edge 35 of the end plate 15 (the edge furthest from the wall channel). The axis of rotation of the hinge barrel is eccentrically positioned relative to an outermost peripheral edge 35 of the end plate 15 (the edge furthest from the wall channel). As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the separation between the outermost peripheral edge 35 of the end plate 15 and the adjacent radially inner edge 25 of the shower screen hinge seal 10 is smallest when in the closed position, shown in Figure 18. Preferably, the outermost peripheral edge 25 of the end plate 15 abuts and applies force against the arcuate inner surface 25 of the shower screen hinge seal 10 when the shower screen is in the closed position as shown in Figure 18. This abutment forces the sidewalls of the shower screen hinge seal 10 against the jaws of the hinge barrel and against the seating opening or depression in the hinge base 16 to better seal these components against the ingress of water. The receiving opening 31 and raised skirt 32 of the spindle 17 are preferably eccentrically mounted relative to the outermost peripheral edge 35 of the end plate 15, positioned closer to the wall channel than to the outermost peripheral edge 35 of the end plate 15. The configuration of the hinge base 16 preferably corresponds with the configuration of the spindle 17 so that the outermost peripheral edge 35 of the end plate 15 can apply force against an arcuate inner surface 25 of the shower screen hinge seal 10 to increase the sealing force against the main hinge body 11 and the seating opening or depression in the hinge base 16. As shown in Figure 3, the skirt 32 may also be shaped in the vertical direction to have at least one depressed region and at least one elevated region. In use, a portion of the hinge base 16 may seat in the at least one depressed region when the shower screen is in the closed position. A smooth transition may be provided between the at 5 least one depressed region and at least one elevated region. The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shower screen hinge seal comprising a shaped body tapering from an enlargedend configured to be located within a barrel of the screen hinge, to a narrow end which extends outside of the barrel to seal to a seal extending along a bottom edge of the screen.

2. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaped body is generally triangular in plan.

3. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising an upper face and a lower face which are planar and substantially parallel to one another and at least a pair or planar side faces extending between the upper face and lower face.

4. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising an upper face and a lower face wherein the upper surface is smaller than the lower surface.

5. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lower surface is convex downwardly.

6. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the shaped body comprises an arcuate end wall at the enlarged end.

7. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claimswherein the shaped body comprises at least one slot opening extending from the narrow end towards the enlarged end to receive a portion of the seal extending along a bottom edge of the screen.

8. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 7 wherein the at least one slot opening is angled relative a vertical axis of the shaped body.

9. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the at least one slot opening is angled from away from a midline of the shaped body as the at least one slot opening extends downwardly.

10. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of claim 7 to 9 wherein more than one slot opening may be provided.

11. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a central wedge structure provided to define a slot opening on either lateral side of the midline of the shaped body and to define an angle of the respective slots.

12. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the shower screen hinge seal is provided separately from the seal extending along a bottom edge of the screen and is mountable relative thereto.

13. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the shaped body is integrally formed with the seal extending along a bottom edge of the shower screen.

14. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 13 wherein the upper surface of the shaped body is smaller than the lower surface and located below a portion of a channel which mounts the seal extending along a bottom edge of the shower screen, to the shower screen.

15. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising an enlarged portion provided on at least one outer wall of the shaped body extending outwardly from the at least one outer wall.

16. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure comprising a wall channel which is attachable to a wall adjacent to a water receptacle; a hinge barrel rotatably attached to the wall channel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis between a closed position and an open position; a lower seal extending along a bottom edge of a shower screen, the lower seal comprising a flexible blade configured to make a wiping contact with an edge of the water receptacle in use and a shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

17. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in claim 16 wherein the hinge barrel includes a main hinge body, a hinge base and hinge top mounted for rotation relative to an upper and a lower spindle formation which define between them an axis of rotation about which the hinge barrel rotates between an open position and a closed position, at least one of the main hinge body or the hinge base comprising an opening or gap in a sidewall in a lower part thereofdefining a pair of opposing jaws between which the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal is received.

18. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in claim 17 wherein the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal is received at least partially within the main hinge body and / or the hinge base and extends outward therefrom through the opening or gap in the sidewall.

19. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in either claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the shower screen hinge seal is mounted eccentrically relative to the axis of rotation so that the shower screen hinge seal is closer to the axis of rotation when the screen hinge assembly is in the closed position.

20. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed claim 19 further comprising a lower end plate mounting the lower spindle formation, the lower end plate comprising an outermost peripheral edge which abuts an end face of the shower screen hinge seal when the shower screen is in the closed position.

21. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in claim 20 wherein the outermost peripheral edge applies force to the end face of the shower screen hinge seal when the shower screen is in the closed position to force the shower screen hinge seal further against the hinge barrel in the closed position.

22. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 21 wherein the shower screen hinge seal is mounted against a depending portion of the hinge barrel at a lower end.

23. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in claim 21 wherein the depending portion of the hinge barrel comprises a pair of spaced apart wall portions.

24. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in claim 23 wherein the pair of spaced apart wall portions are opposite ends of a single wall.

25. A screen hinge assembly for a shower enclosure as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein the shower screen hinge seal is provided in a flared lower portion of the hinge barrel.

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