GB2304281A

GB2304281A - Plastics bath seal extrusion with extra lateral deflection

Info

Publication number: GB2304281A
Application number: GB9516715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Richard Webb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-15
Filing date: 1995-08-15
Publication date: 1997-03-19
Also published as: GB9516715D0

Abstract

A composite plastics bath seal comprises one part 5 which fits behind the tiles 10 and is joined by two flexible membranes 6,7 to a rigid profile 8 which supports the sealing lip 9. This composite plastics extrusion is capable of providing an extra amount of lateral deflection so that a small flexible lip remains in contact with the bath surface even when the bath surface moves downwards under load from the weight of the water in the bath.

Description

A COMPOSITE PLASTICS BATH SEAL EXTRUSION WITH EXTRA LATERAL DEFLECTION This invention relates to a plastics bath seal extrusion which provides extra lateral deflection.

Bath seals are well known and are available in the form of many profiles. One form is generally as shown in figure 1. It can be seen that this type of bath seal, which is secured partly behind the tiles relies on a small soft lip to seal against the bath surface. This prevents water from seeping past the flexible sealing lip and the bath surface. This design is satisfactory if the bath does not deflect downwards. With certain modem bath construction such as those made of acrylicipolyaster laminate a small amount of downward vertical movement takes place when the bath is filled with water and used for bathing. Such downward deflection produces a gap between the sealing lip and the bath surface.

According to the present invention there is provided a bath seal of composite construction comprising of five or more parts and by way of example a composite construction of five parts will now be described, two parts of rigid plastics and three parts of a flexible plastic whereby the flexible sealing lip remains in contact with the horizontal bath surface when the horizontal bath surface moves vertically downwards. The extra deflection being obtained by distorting and placing under load at the time of fitting the two flexible membranes. The two flexible membranes can be by way of example parallel to each other or at any suitable angle to each other so as to provide this extra downward movement. Where the flexible material joins the rigid material the two are bonded to each other during the extrusion process..

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. shows the profile of a typical standard bath seal. This type of bath seal has a small lip 1. which is joined to the main rigid profile 2. This lip 1. is in contact with the bath surface 4. In the event of the of the horizontal bath surface moving vertically downwards it follows that the small lip 1. will separate from the bath surface thus allowing water to leak between the two parts.

The lip 1. will only cater for a limited downward movement of the bath surface before it separates from the bath surface.

Figure 2. illustrates the composite profile in the 'as extnrded' state. The rigid profile 5. which is designed to ft partly behind the tiles, the flexible membranes 6 and 7 which provide the extra spring like lateral deflection. The rigid profile 8 joins the flexible membranes 6 and 7 to the flexible lip 9.

Figure 3. shows the composite extrusion with the bath in the unused' position. i.e. with the bath surface in the upper position.

Figure 4. shows the composite extrusion with the bath in the 'as used' position. i.e. with the bath surface in the lower position.

Referring to the drawing figure 1. which iHustrates a typical bath seal it can be seen that in the event of the bath surface moving vertically downwards the flexible lip can lose contact with the bath surface and allow water to leak at this point.

Referring to the drawing Fig 2. it can be seen that the extruded profile is constructed from five separate parts where profile 5. is bonded to the two parallel membranes 6 and 7. which are in tum bonded to the profile 8. The flexible lip 9 is bonded to the profile 8. The lip 9. caters for only a small amount of vertical deflection of the bath surface but the two flexible membranes 6 and 7 cater for a much larger amount of vertical deflection of the bath surface. The two flexible membranes 6 and 7. being at a suitable angle and parallel to each other ensure that the small lip 9. moves in a vertical direction only. The flexible membranes 6 and 7 are assembled under load as shown in figure 3.

Figure 3. shows the composite profile in its fitted position with the bath surface in the upper most position. This is the position of the bath before being filled with water and used in the conventional manner. it can be seen that the rigid part 5. of the composite profile is fitted behind the lower tiles and is secured in this position so that the flexible membranes 6 and 7 are deflected so as to apply a downward force on to the bath surface 4. via the rigid part 8. The flexible lip 9 is also deflected so as to produce a seal between itself and the bath surface. The composite profile is designed in such a way so that the force required to deflect the lip 9 is much lower than the force to defiect the two membranes 6 and 7.This characteristic ensures that the lip 9 is always deflected against the bath surface when vertical movement of the bath surface takes place.

The composite section must be in the deflected state as shown in figure 3. when being initially fitted with the bath in the 'unused' position. This will then ensure that when the bath surface deflects downwards, the spring like properties of the two membranes 6 and 7 will operate and ensure that the lip 9 remains in contact with the bath surface 4.

Figure 4. shows the composite profile in position when the bath has filled with water and the bath surface 4 has moved vertically downwards It can be seen that the flexible lip 9is still in contact with the bath surface 4. and still pressed against the bath surface 4. The extra vertical movement of the composite section is provided by the two parallel membranes 6 and 7. The flexible lip 9 only allows a limited vertical deflection of the bath surface. This limited distortion of lip 9. would on its own not be sufficient to maintain surface contact with the bath surface. This is the limitation of conventional bath seals.

Figure 5. SilOWS a nine piece composite construction where the spring like hinges are formed at the flexible joints 13,14,15 and 1off. These flexible joints are separated by two rigid parts 17 and 18. The parts 13,14,15 andes are of sufficient substance so as to provide an effective pressure on to the bath surface 4 in its original state and to maintain pressure on to the bath surface when this surface is deflected to its lowest position. The rigid part 5. is secured behind the tile 10 in the normal way.

Claims

-CLAIMS

1. A bath seal of composite construction comprising of five parts or more parts and by way of example , two parts are of a rigid plastic and three parts of a flexible plastic whereby the flexible sealing lip remains in contact with the horizontal bath surface when the horizontal bath surface moves vertically downwards. The extra deflection being obtained by distorting and placing under load the two flexible membranes. The two flexible membranes can be by way of example parallel to each other or at any suitable angle to each other so as to provide this extra downward movement. Where the flexible material joins the rigid material the two are bonded to each other during the extrusion process.

2. A bath seal of composite construction where the two separate membranes are joined to form a box like construction.

3. A bath seal of composite construction where the two separate membranes are formed into a box form by two rigid sides which form part of the rigid extrusions.

4. A bath seal of composite construction where the two separate membranes are replaced by one thicker flexible extrusion having similar overall dimensions.

5. A bath seal of composite construction where the two membranes are fixed to the rigid extrusion by a mechanical connection.

-CLAIMS6. A bath seal of composite construction where the vertical side that is designed to fit behind the tiles is designed to be fixed to the front surface of the tiles using some form of mechanical fixing as required..