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EP-4734802-A1 - IMPROVED SHOWER SCREEN HINGE SEAL

EP4734802A1EP 4734802 A1EP4734802 A1EP 4734802A1EP-4734802-A1

Abstract

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 is provided as is a shower screen hinge assembly including a shower screen hinge seal having this configuration.

Inventors

  • CATTLIN, BRETT

Assignees

  • Cattlin, Brett

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (20)

  1. 1. 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.
  2. 2. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaped body is generally triangular in plan.
  3. 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. 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. 5. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lower surface is convex downwardly.
  6. 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. 7. A shower screen hinge seal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 thereof defining a pair of opposing jaws between which the shaped body of the shower screen hinge seal is received.
  18. 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. 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. 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.

Description

IMPROVED SHOWER SCREEN HINGE SEAL 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. Alternatively, the present invention may relate to a watertight retrofit screen seal system for improving the integrity of a shower screen seal at the base of the shower screen, typically at the hinge to reduce water leaks, green algae build up and waste through unnecessary production, replacements and cleaning 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. Further, due to the movement of the screen relative to the lower fluid boundary, there is relative movement of the gasket seal relative to the hinge or adjacent fixture and water egress is possible, often through the gap where the gasket seal meets the bottom hinge or fixture. This can happen during normal showering conditions where water may splash or run off the person showering but also when the shower is sprayed on to the screen accidentally or purposefully for cleaning, despite manufacturers’ instructions usually advising against the latter. Sometimes the gasket seal lower member does not sit perfectly flush with the lower fluid boundary in the closed position and a kink or warp of the lower member occurs letting water escape, which is particularly the case with fin seals. This is more common in shower screens when it does not incorporate a rise and fall hinge that lifts the screen off the lower fluid boundary or if the shower screen panel is not fully rotated off the lower fluid boundary (if it can be) near to the hinge end before the screen is rotated back into the closed position prior to showering. Bubble gasket seals are sometimes used to avoid this kink, but these are sometimes deemed less desirable as they can provide a gap between the bubble gasket seal member and the lower fluid boundary further away from the hinge end if the lower fluid boundary is not perfectly perpendicular to the fixture or there is an intentional downwards taper or slope of the lower fluid boundary to encourage water to stay within the showering space. Furthermore, shower screens and gasket seals may be replaced regularly in the hope they will not leak, which wastes natural resources. There is a further problem that gasket seals can go green with algae or mould build up in the U-shaped channel where they clip on to the shower screen usually due to water entering the end closest to the hinge. Although the gasket seal being discoloured may still be functional, it can be unsightly so are often cleaned regularly or replaced, wasting water, harsh chemicals and materials. The algae build up can often be reduced if silicone is applied to the end of the gasket seal where it attaches to the screen, but often installers do not do this. Further, shower screens can come in a variety of glass thicknesses and shapes (i.e. curved) provided with various gasket seals, which makes it harder to find a replacement gasket seal whilst also being more costly for the supply chain, manufacturing, storing, listing, distributing and disposing of different stock keeping units (SKUs). There is a further problem that installed shower screens in situ have various assemblies, hinge shapes, screen panel thicknesses and heights above the lower fluid boundary to the bottom of the shower screen panel. This makes it difficult for suppliers to provide a retrofit shower screen seal that can fit many shower screens already in situ which may cause unnecessary replacement of the shower screen. The present invention seeks to provide an improved shower screen seal mechanism that can be attached to the lower side of a rotating shower screen of varying assemblies, particularly an improved configuration allowing a seal mechanism to be retrofit relative to an already installed shower screen edge of varying thicknesses, without needing to change or remove the existing shower screen, hinge or glass. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shower screen hinge seal comprising a shap