SHOWER PAN, SHOWER PAN ASSEMBLY, AND METHOD THEREOF

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of pans, bases, or trays for use in bathrooms and the like. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a shower pan, a shower pan assembly, and a method of installation thereof.

BACKGROUND

A shower pans acts as a floor of the shower that collects the water and directs the water to a drain. Shower pans are installed in bathrooms of homes as well as in commercial installations including hotels and the like. Conventionally, the structure of a shower pan includes a platform, a drain hole through which excess water on the platform is removed, and a plurality of upstanding walls attached to the sides of the platform to prevent water from leaking onto the floor of the bathroom. The state of art shower pans suffers from a problem that when the drain hole is clogged, the excess water on the platform of the shower pan starts to leak onto the floor of the bathroom.

The aforementioned problem occurs due to the limitation in the water drainage design of the state-of-art shower pans. Thus, there is a need for a technical solution that overcomes the aforementioned problems of state of art shower pans.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a shower pan assembly is disclosed. The shower pan assembly includes a shower pan. The shower pan includes a plurality of side edges, a plurality of drain slits disposed on the plurality of side edges, a base having a flat central portion with a plurality of tapered side edges such that the plurality of tapered side edges merge with the plurality of drain slits disposed on the plurality of side edges of the shower pan to drain excess water from the shower pan, and one or more elevation means coupled to a lower surface of the base, such that the one or more elevation means is adapted to elevate the shower pan to a predefined height with respect to a sub floor forming an open space. The shower pan assembly further includes a drainage pipe. The drainage pipe includes a first end and a second end such that the first end is coupled to the plurality of drain slits and the second end is connected to a plumbing chase, such that the drainage pipe runs substantially parallel to the base of the shower pan towards the plumbing chase through the open space.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shower pan assembly further includes a connection means including a plurality of open pipes such that each of the plurality of open pipes has a C-shaped cross section to couple each of the plurality open pipe to each of the plurality of drain slits.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain slits includes a rear drain slit, a left drain slit, and a right drain slit and the plurality of side edges includes a rear side edge, a left side edge, and a right side edge such that the rear drain slit, the left drain slit, and the right drain slit are disposed on the rear side edge, the left side edge, and the right side edge, respectively.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of side edges includes a front side edge, wherein the front side edge is without a drain slit.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shower pan includes a plurality of drain covers adapted to be disposed onto the plurality of drain slits, respectively.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shower pan includes a plurality of L-shaped connectors such that the one or more L-shaped connectors are adapted to enable coupling of the first and second ends of the drainage pipe with the connection means and the plumbing chase, respectively.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elevation means includes a plurality of height adjustable stands adapted to adjust elevation of the shower pan with respect to the sub floor forming the open space.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elevation means includes a plurality of stands having the predefined height that are adapted to elevate the shower pan to the predefined height with respect to the sub floor forming the open space.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a shower pan is disclosed. The shower pan includes a plurality of side edges, a plurality of drain slits disposed on the plurality of side edges, a base having a flat central portion with a plurality of tapered side edges such that the plurality of tapered side edges merge with the plurality of drain slits disposed on the plurality of side edges of the shower pan to drain excess water from the shower pan, and one or more elevation means coupled to a lower surface of the base, such that the one or more elevation means is adapted to elevate the shower pan to a predefined height with respect to a sub floor forming an open space.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain slits are coupled to a drainage pipe that runs substantially parallel to the base of the shower pan towards a plumbing chase through the open space.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of drain slits is coupled to the drainage pipe by way of a connection means.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain slits includes a rear drain slit, a left drain slit, and a right drain slit and the plurality of side edges includes a rear side edge, a left side edge, and a right side edge such that the rear drain slit, the left drain slit, and the right drain slit are disposed on the rear side edge, the left side edge, and the right side edge, respectively.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of side edges includes a front side edge, wherein the front side edge is without a drain slit.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality of drain covers adapted to be disposed onto the plurality of drain slits, respectively.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for installing the shower pan assembly is disclosed. The method includes a step of elevating a shower pan of the shower pan assembly at a predefined height with respect to a sub floor thus forming an open space, such that the shower pan is elevated by way of one or more elevation means coupled to a lower surface of a base of the shower pan. The method further includes a step of coupling a plurality of drain slits disposed on a plurality of side edges of the shower pan to a drainage pipe that runs substantially parallel to the base of the shower pan towards a plumbing chase through the open space.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method includes a step of coupling each of the plurality of drain slits to the drainage pipe by way of a connection means.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the connection means includes a plurality of open pipe such that each of the plurality of open pipes has a C-shaped cross section to couple each of the plurality open pipe to each of the plurality of drain slits.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method includes a step of coupling of a first end and a second end of the drainage pipe to the connection means and the plumbing chase, respectively by way of a plurality of L-shaped connectors.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain slits includes a rear drain slit, a left drain slit, and a right drain slit and the plurality of side edges includes a rear side edge, a left side edge, and a right side edge such that the rear drain slit, the left drain slit, and the right drain slit are disposed on the rear side edge, the left side edge, and the right side edge, respectively.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of side edges includes a front side edge, such that the front side edge is without a drain slit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not limited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a perspective view and a front sectional view of a shower pan assembly, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates perspective view side of another shower pan assembly, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method for installing the shower pan assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of the appended drawings is intended as a description of the currently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a perspective view and a front sectional view of a shower pan assembly 100, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shower pan assembly 100 may be adapted to collect water from a shower and direct the water to a drain. Specifically, the shower pan assembly 100 may be adapted to collect the water from the shower and direct the water to the drain by way of drain slits disposed on the side edges of the shower pan assembly 100. The shower pan assembly 100 may include a shower pan 102 and a drainage pipe 104. As illustrated, the shower pan 102 and the drainage pipe 104 may be assembled to form the shower pan assembly 100. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shower pan 102 may be made up of ceramic or porcelain tile, stone, marble, polymer-based material, acrylic, solid surface, metal, or the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include or otherwise cover, any other suitable material from which liquid may be drained including known, related and later developed material, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the shower pan 102 may include plurality of side edges 106, a plurality of drain slits 108, a base 110, and one or more elevation means 112. The plurality of side edges 106 may be disposed on the side portions of the shower pan 100 of which a front side edge 106a, a rear side edge 106b, a left side edge 106c, and a right side edge 106d are shown. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the rear side edge 106b, the left side edge 106c, and the right side edge 106d may include splash walls that are adapted to act as barrier for the water from the shower to splash on a floor of a bathroom. In some embodiment of the present disclosure, the front side edge 106a may not include any splash wall and may act as an entrance side of the shower pan 102 from which a person may step on the shower pan 100.

The plurality of drain slits 108 may be disposed on the plurality of side edges 106. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain slits 108 may include a rear drain slit 108a, a left drain slit 108b, and a right drain slit 108c. Specifically, the rear drain slit 108a, the left drain slit 108b, and the right drain slit 108c may be disposed on the rear side edge 106b, the left side edge 106c, and the right side edge 106d, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the shower pan 102 further includes a plurality of drain covers 128 that are adapted to be disposed on the plurality of drain slits 108. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain covers may include a rear drain cover 128a, a left drain cover 128b, and a right drain cover 128c. Specifically, the rear drain cover 128a, the left drain cover 128b, and the right drain cover 128c may be disposed on the rear drain slit 108a, the left drain slit 108b, and the right drain slit 108c, respectively. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain covers 128 may include a plurality of small holes that are adapted to pass the water that trickles down from the base 110 to the plurality of drain slits 108. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the plurality of drain covers 128 may be made up of a metal sheet. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include or otherwise cover any other material from which the plurality of drain covers 128 may be made up of, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

The base 110 may include a flat central portion 114 with a plurality of tapered side edges 116. The plurality of tapered side edges 116 may be merged with the plurality of drain slits 108 disposed on the plurality of side edges 106 of the shower pan 102 to drain excess water from the shower pan 102. Specifically, the water from the shower (not shown) may fall on the central portion 114 of the base 110. Further the excess water on the central portion 114 may trickle from the central portion 114 to the plurality of tapered side edges 116 of the base 110. Further, the water may be drained to the plurality of drain slits 108 that may be merged with the plurality of tapered side edges 116. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the left drain slit 108b and the right drain slit 108c may be covered by the front side edge 106a such that water drained from the flat central portion 114 into the plurality of drain slits 108 does not trickle down from the front side edge 106a of the shower pan 102.

The one or more elevation means 112 may be coupled to a lower surface of the base 110. Specifically, the one or more elevation means 112 may include elevation means 112a-112d that may be coupled to a lower surface of the base 110 by way of the plurality of side edges 106. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elevation means 112a-112d may be coupled to a lower surface of the base 110 such that the one or more elevation means 112 may be engaged with one or more grooves (not shown) disposed in the plurality of side edges 106. Further, the one or more elevation means 112 may be adapted to elevate the shower pan 102 to a predefined height with respect to a sub floor 118 forming an open space 120. In some embodiments of the present disclosure the subfloor 118 may be the floor of the bathroom. The open space 120 may be adapted to facilitate accommodation of drainage pipe, connection means, L-shaped connectors and the like. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the open space 120 may be covered by a sliding panel (not shown) such that a user may slide the sliding panel to access the drainage pipe, the connection means, the L-shaped connectors and the like. Although FIG. 1A illustrates that the one or more elevation means 112 includes four elevation means (i.e., the elevation means 112a-112d), it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to it. In various other embodiments, the one or more elevation means 112 may include multiple elevation means similar to the elevation means 112a-112d, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more elevation means 112 may include a plurality of height adjustable stands adapted to adjust elevation of the shower pan 102 with respect to the sub floor 118 forming the open space 120. The plurality of height adjustable stands may include a vertical portion (not shown) and a horizontal portion (not shown). The vertical portion and the horizontal portion may be coupled to each other such that the vertical portion may be engaged with the side edges 106 of the shower pan 102 and the horizontal portion may be engaged with the subfloor 118. Specifically, the vertical portion and the horizontal portion may be threadably coupled to each other such that when the vertical is rotated axially with respect to the horizontal portion, the vertical portion advances in the upward direction to elevate the shower pan 110 to a predefined height. More specifically, the predefined height may be adjusted by axially rotating the vertical portion in a clockwise/anticlockwise direction with respect to the horizontal portion.

The drainage pipe 104 may include a first end 104a and a second end 104b. The first end 104a may be coupled to the plurality of drain slits 108 and the second end is connected to a plumbing chase 122 such that the drainage pipe 104 runs substantially parallel to the base 110 of the shower pan 102 towards the plumbing chase 122 through the open space 120. Specifically, the first end 104a of the drainage pipe 104 may be coupled to a connection means 124 that is further coupled to the plurality of drain slits 108. Specifically, the connection means 124 may include a rear connection means 124a, a left connection means 124b, and a right connection means 124c that may be coupled to the rear drain slit 108a, the left drain slit 108b, and the right drain slit 108c. In some embodiment of the present disclosure, the connection means 124 may include a plurality of open pipes that may be coupled to the plurality of drain slits 108. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, each of the plurality of open pipes has a C-shaped cross section to couple each of the plurality open pipe to each of the plurality of drain slits 108. Specifically, the C-shaped cross section of the plurality of open pipes may be disposed on the plurality of tapered side edges 116 from underneath the base 110 via the open space 120 to couple to the plurality of drain slits 108.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shower pan assembly 100 may further include a plurality of L-shaped connectors 126 such that the one or more L-shaped connectors of the plurality of L-shaped connectors 126 are adapted to enable coupling of the first end 104a and second end 104b of the drainage pipe 104 with the connection means 124 and the plumbing chase 122, respectively. In some embodiments of the present disclosures, the plurality of L-shaped connectors 126 may include a first set of L-shaped connectors and a second set of L-shaped connectors. Specifically, a first end (not shown) of the first set of L-shaped connectors may be adapted to be coupled to the connection means 124 and a second end (not shown) of the first set of L-shaped connectors may be adapted to be coupled the first end 104a of the drainage pipe 104. Further, a first end of the second set of L-shaped connectors may be adapted to be connected to the second send 104b of the drainage pipe 104.and a second end of the second set of L-shaped connectors may be adapted to be coupled to the plumbing chase 122.

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view side of another shower pan assembly 200, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shower pan assembly 200 may further include the shower pan 202. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shower pan 202 is structurally and functionally similar to the shower pan 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1A. However, the shower pan 202 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) may include another one or more elevation means 212. The one or more elevation means 212 may include a plurality of stands having the predefined height that are adapted to elevate the shower pan 202 to the predefined height with respect to the sub floor (not shown) forming the open space (not shown). Unlike the one or more elevation means 112 of FIG. 1A which are height adjustable stands, the one or more elevation means 212 may include a plurality of stands 212a-212d having the predefined height. In some embodiments, the plurality of stands may be in the shape of cylindrical bars. However, in various other embodiments, the plurality of stands may be in any other geometrical shape. Aspects of the present disclosure are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of elevation means without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 for installing the shower pan assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

At step 302, a user may elevate the shower pan 102 of the shower pan assembly 100 at the predefined height with respect to the sub floor 118 thus forming the open space 120. Specifically, to elevate the shower pan 102 of the shower pan assembly 100, the one or more elevation means 112 may be coupled to the lower surface of a base 110 of the shower pan 102 by way of the one or more grooves (not shown) disposed in the plurality of side edges 106.

At step 304, the user may couple the plurality of drain slits 108 disposed on a plurality of side edges 106 of the shower pan 102 to the connection means 124. Specifically, the user may couple the rear connection means 124a, the left connection means 124b, and the right connection means 124c of the connection means 124 to the rear drain slit 108a, the left drain slit 108b, and the right drain slit 108c of the plurality of the drain slits 108, respectively.

At step 306, the user may couple the connection means 124 to the first end 104a of the drainage pipe 104. Specifically, the plurality of L-shaped connectors 126 may be adapted to couple the connection means 124 to the first end 104a of the drainage pipe 104.

At step 308, the user may couple the second end 104b of the drainage pipe 104 to the plumbing chase 122. Specifically, the plurality of L-shaped connectors 126 may be adapted to couple the second end 104b of the drainage pipe 104 to the plumbing chase 122.

Thus, the shower pan assembly 102 and the method 300 thereof of the present disclosure may facilitate in providing an efficient shower pan 100 that overcomes the limitation in the water drainage design of the state-of-art shower pans. The shower pan 102 may include a plurality of slits 108 that facilitates in passing the water when one or more slits of the plurality of slits 108 are clogged thereby ensuring no water logging on the base 110 of the shower 102. The shower pan assembly 100 may further facilitate in drainage of wastewater from the drainage pipe 104 that runs horizontally to the plumbing chase 122 thereby avoiding the expense of plumbing lines present in the state of art shower pans assemblies where the plumbing lines first run vertically from the bottom of the shower pan into the floor slab and then, bends and run horizontally through the floor slab to eventually connect to the plumbing chase. Thus, the aforementioned drainage pipe 104 that runs horizontally to the plumbing chase 122 may be therefore beneficial when showers are replacing bathtubs. Specifically, the shower pan 102 of the present disclosure may eliminate the need to replace drainage pipe of the bathtub having 1-½ inches diameter with the drainage pipe of the shower having 2 inches of diameter.

Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure, and these are, therefore, considered to be within the scope of the disclosure, as defined in the following claims. Features or functionality described with respect to certain example embodiments may be combined and sub-combined in and/or with various other example embodiments. Also, different embodiments and/or elements of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, may be combined and sub-combined in a similar manner as well. Further, some example embodiments, whether individually and/or collectively, may be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures may take precedence over and/or otherwise modify their application. Additionally, a number of steps may be required before, after, and/or concurrently with example embodiments, as disclosed herein. Note that any and/or all methods and/or processes, at least as disclosed herein, can be at least partially performed via at least one entity or actor in any manner.

The terminology used herein can imply direct or indirect, full or partial, temporary or permanent, action or inaction. For example, when an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected” or “coupled” to another element, then the element can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element and/or intervening elements can be present, including indirect and/or direct variants. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled”to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Although the terms first, second, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not necessarily be limited by such terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular example embodiments and is not intended to be necessarily limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “includes” and/or “comprising,” “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence and/or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or. ” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized and/or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

As used herein, the term “about” and/or “substantially” refers to a +/−10% variation from the nominal value/term. Such variation is always included in any given.

If any disclosures are incorporated herein by reference and such disclosures conflict in part and/or in whole with the present disclosure, then to the extent of conflict, and/or broader disclosure, and/or broader definition of terms, the present disclosure controls. If such disclosures conflict in part and/or in whole with one another, then to the extent of conflict, the later-dated disclosure controls.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that the particular embodiments shown and described by way of illustration are in no way intended to be considered limiting.