ES2344745T3 - CUBA MADE OF WOOD AND WITH A LOWER WOOD PLATE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A tub comprises a wooden bottom wall (10) having a top wall and a peripheral wall defining a circumference and a plurality of wooden side-wall elements (12,14,36,38) connected to the wooden bottom wall at the circumference. Each of the plurality of wooden side-wall elements defines an inner side and an outer side and the wooden side-wall elements are interconnected so as to form a continuous circumferential wall encircling the wooden bottom wall. The continuous circumferential wall and the wooden bottom wall together defines an inner space, in which each of the inner sides of the wooden side-walls faces the inner space. A groove (30,40) is defined in each of the wooden side-wall elements in the inner side facing the inner space at a position below the top wall of the wooden bottom wall, and at least one resilient, waterproof member (32) is received in each of the grooves defined in each of the wooden side-wall elements. A first multitude of apertures (22,24) are defined in the peripheral wall of the wooden bottom wall and a second multitude of apertures are defined in the plurality of wooden side-wall elements at a distance below the groove. At least a set of the first and the second multitude of apertures is positioned in registration. A third multitude of fastening devices (26,28) are received in the set of apertures being in registration.

Description

Cuba made of wood and with a bottom plate of wood.

The present invention relates to a bathtub made of wood and that has a wooden bottom plate, in particular a bathtub or tub of similar size, which has a height at least 30 cm, such as 30-100 cm, p. eg 40-80 cm, 50-70 cm, or preferably 60 cm, and defining a width of the order of 70-200 cm, like 80-160 cm, 100-150 cm It is contemplated that the above measures may vary as a specific bathtub for an application Specific intentional may differ from bathtub settings conventional, since the bathtub is considered part of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Whenever the bathtub is made of materials of wood as solid oily wood material, p. eg, teak, the bathtub has to resist periodic exposure to moisture and can expand and contract due to moisture variation and temperature without changing the general configuration of the bathtub, since That the bathtub is made of wood.

Elements of wooden bathtubs have been described and / or illustrated in previous patent publications, such as EP 1,459,669, WO 04/043214, JP 03037122A, JP 05184476A and US Des. 261 926

An object of the present invention relates to problem of providing a durable seal between the plate bottom and side walls of the bathtub, whose bathtub is used on a non-permanent basis, that is, frequently allows it to be used for a short period of time or more long and often not allowed to be used during a extended period of time during which the bathtub can dry,  thus causing extreme contraction of the side walls and / or of the bottom plate.

AU-A-5801180 describes a bathtub according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention relates to a bathtub, The bathtub comprises:

a wooden bottom wall that has a wall upper and a peripheral wall that defines a circumference,

a plurality of sidewall elements wooden connected to the bottom wooden wall in the circumference, defining each of the plurality of elements of wooden side walls an inner side and an outer side, the plurality of wooden sidewall elements being interconnected to form a continuous circumferential wall that surrounds the bottom wooden wall, jointly defining the continuous circumferential wall and the bottom wooden wall a space, each side of the walls being wooden sides facing the internal space,

a defined slot in each of the elements of wooden side walls on the inner side facing the internal space in a position below the upper wall of the bottom wooden wall, at least one resilent element, water resistant received in each of the grooves defined in each of the wooden sidewall elements,

a first multitude of openings defined in the peripheral wall in the peripheral wall of the lower wall of wood and a second multitude of openings defined in the plurality of wooden sidewall elements at a distance below the groove, at least one group of the first and the second multitude of openings being positioned so interlocked, and

a third multitude of fixing devices received in the group of openings that are interlocked.

The bottom wooden wall defines a flat surface or in an alternative embodiment a surface not flat. It is contemplated that the flat surface is more comfortable for a Person sitting in the bathtub. However, an embodiment where the wooden bottom wall is not flat is also part of the present invention, since a non-flat surface can offer other advantages, such as massage properties, e.g. eg, through a series of grooves and / or stretch marks, or other properties.

The bottom wooden wall can be a plate solid or alternatively it can be composed of two or more wood elements.

The bottom wooden wall can define a general circular, elliptical, round, square, oblong geometry, rectangular, triangular, trapezoid, curved configuration or Any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment Currently, the bottom wooden wall defines a geometry substantially rectangular. The bathtub may be built inside a structure in a bathtub, p. eg, using tiles or concrete or similar. In addition, the bathtub according to the present invention can be used as a Jacuzzi and include a number of openings for receiving air, water or other liquid, e.g. eg for provide a massage stream with air bubbles or jets of water. When used as a Jacuzzi, the bottom wall defines preferably 4, 6 or 8 sides.

The plurality of sidewall elements of wood may consist of only two elements, e.g. eg, two elements each comprising two parts or sides that They form an angle. The plurality of sidewall elements of wood forms a continuous side wall, but not necessarily a different side wall, since the side wall includes preferably edges.

The bottom wooden wall is positioned in a location where most of the wall length lateral extends to the side or part where the interior space. The groove is defined in the side wall in the side oriented to the internal space. The slot can define any geometric configuration, such as square, oblong, rectangular, triangular, circular, semi-round, semicircular, trapezoid, pyramidal or any combination thereof.

Advantageously, the slots may be defined in a position where they are, individually, parallel to the upper surface of the lower wooden wall when the side wall elements are wall mounted Wooden bottom in the circumferential wall. It is not necessary to the groove is formed at the same distance from the bottom of the side of the Side wall element along the entire length of the groove.

It is contemplated that the element or elements Resilient, water resistant provide protection to fixing devices to hold the wall elements lateral to the lower wall. In a preferred embodiment currently, the third multitude of fixing devices is It consists of metal devices, such as nails or screws. Since the fixing devices are made of metallic material, they are subject to possible corrosion or degradation when exposed to water, with or without soap or soap tablets. The bathtub can be used for people who want to take a bath or alternatively like a basin to wash clothes or similar.

In the bathtub according to the present invention, each one of the side wall elements can also define a first and second opposite side edge, and each of the wooden elements are connected to a wooden element contiguous because the first edge is mounted on the second edge of the Adjoining wooden side wall element.

The two edges can be joined or the first edge may be in contact with the inner side of the element of adjoining wooden side wall or alternatively the second edge may be in contact with the inner side of the wall element Adjoining wooden side.

A number of openings can be defined in the first and / or second lateral edge, while another number of openings can be defined on the inner side of each of the wooden sidewall elements. The devices of fixing, such as nails or screws, can be used to hold or mount a wooden side wall element to an element of adjoining wooden side wall. Additionally, they can be included openings or holes in a group of sidewall elements of wood to receive pins or wooden pins. The pegs wooden can take any geometric configuration, like a cylinder, a slab, a wedge, a block or the like.

Preferably, at least one of the elements Wooden side walls can also include two grooves additional, each being parallel to the first and second side respectively. Advantageously, at least one resilent element, Water resistant, can be positioned in each of the slots additional.

A specific advantage refers to a bathtub according to the present invention, in which a sixth multitude of openings can be defined in the peripheral wall of the wall wooden bottom and a seventh multitude of openings can be define in the plurality of wooden sidewall elements at a distance below the groove, at least one of the sixth and the seventh multitude of openings being positioned so interlocked, and an eighth multitude of fixing devices received in at least two openings being interlocked.

Specifically, the eighth crowd of fixing devices may consist of pins or wooden pegs The use of wooden pins or pins It is contemplated to provide the advantage of expansion and / or contraction of wooden pins or pins similar to the of the wood that constitutes the side walls and / or wall side.

Additionally, the third and / or fifth crowd of fixing devices consists of pins screws or nails or combinations thereof.

Particularly advantageously, the element Resilient, waterproof can be made of rubber, silicone, asphalt, a synthetic material, a natural material or Any combination thereof. The resilient element, Water resistant ensures that water does not reach the devices fixing, such as nails, screws, wooden pins and / or plugs, and thus the corrosion, degradation or disintegration of fixing devices is not affected by the use of the bathtub.

Currently, it is preferable that the bottom wall of wood and / or the plurality of wooden elements are made of a type of hard and oily wood, such as teak, oak, beech, alternatively pine more alternatively any combination thereof.

Each of the plurality of wooden elements You can define a general circular, semicircular geometry, elliptical, semi-elliptical, round, semi-round, square, oblong, rectangular, triangular, trapezoid, any curved configuration or any combination thereof. In the presently preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of wooden elements defines a trapezoid geometry. Specifically, at least a couple of the plurality of wooden elements can define configurations identical geometric. Two identical elements can, for example be used for final pieces and two other identical pieces like side walls.

To remove the water from the bathtub after use, the bottom wall may further include an opening for removing liquid and / or at least a plurality of elements of wood also includes an opening to remove excess liquid. Openings to remove excess water can preferably not closed by for example a plug and can be connected to the drain to remove excess water from the bathtub. The opening to take out the liquid that can form in the bottom wall can preferably receive a plug for ensure that the water inside the bath does not disappear before that the person who wants to take a bath is over.

The sealing compound may be constituted for any very elastic sealing compound such as asphalt or preferably a silicone based material. One realization currently preferred of a bathtub comprises a bottom wall of wood that defines a rectangular geometry and four walls laterals that define a trapezoid outer geometry and are mounted on all four sides of the bottom wall. Two of the side walls are connected to the other two side walls such that the sides of the side walls are in face-to-face contact with the surface of the other two walls laterals oriented towards an interior space defined by the four side walls and the bottom wall.

The invention will be explained below in reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view from a bathtub assembly, and

Figure 2 is a schematic elevation view of the bath assembly of figure 1.

Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of part of a bath assembly comprising a base plate 10 and two final pieces 12 and 14. In a referred embodiment Currently of the present invention, the bottom wall 10 is constituted by a single piece of material, being preferably wood. Also, each of the end walls or end pieces 12 and 14 consists of single plates or pieces of wood.

The wooden wall 10 includes an opening 16 to remove the water from the bathtub. The opening or drain 16 defines a circular geometry and is adapted to receive a plug that can provide a cap so that the water does not leave the Bathtub when someone wants to take a bath. The opening 16 includes a plastic or metal elements to provide a closure that can seal with the use of a plug, not shown, so that The bathtub can fill with water.

At short ends 18 and 20 of the wall bottom 10, a number of openings are formed in the bottom wall 10. The openings 22 and 24 are adapted to receive a plug 26 and a screw 28 respectively. Pin 26 is made of wood, preferably of the same type of wood as the bathtub, without However, other types of wood can be used to form the pegs In alternative embodiments, the pins may be constituted by wooden pins or plugs to provide the same functionality and fix the final walls 12 and 14 and also the side walls illustrated in figure 2.

On the side walls 12 and 14, a number of Direct openings are formed to receive screws 28. the screws are used to join the end walls 121 and 14 to the bottom wall 10 while ensuring that the end walls 12 and 14 do not move and also provide a strong bond of the final walls 12 and 14 to the bottom wall 10. On the walls end 12 and 14, a slot 30 is formed. Slot 30 receives a water resistant resilent element 32, preferably being a silicone sealing to provide a waterproof joint or waterproof from end walls 12 and 14 to the wall bottom 10. In a presently preferred embodiment, the element waterproof resilent 32 is received in a slot 30 parallel to the surface of the bottom wall 10. Like the wall Bottom 10 of Figure 1 is illustrated as a flat plate, the slot 30 is illustrated as a straight slot, but as the wall bottom 10 can have any geometric configuration, the Slot 30 can take any geometry.

When placing the resilent element, resistant to water 32 in slot 30, an adhesive can be applied to one or more sides, either in element 32 or within slot 30, or alternatively to the end of the lower wall 10. This is contemplates to ensure that element 32 is held in place in situations where the tree or wood used to form the final walls 12, 14 and / or the bottom wall 10, is dried, e.g. ex. in periods where the bathtub is not used and therefore dries and dries contract

As illustrated in Figure 1, the final wall 12 also includes a direct opening 34 that acts as a barrier against spillage or drainage to draw water at or above the level at which opening 34 is placed. Opening 34 can be also connected to a piping system to guide or direct the water away from the bathtub and towards, for example, a drain pipe In addition, opening 34 may be connected to a piping system that is also connected to the opening 16, whose piping system is also connected to the conduit of drain or waste.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the wall bottom 10 mounted and end walls 12 and 14 of figure 1 and also the side walls 36 and 38. As the final walls 12 and 14, the side walls 36 and 38 include a groove 40 parallel to the bottom wall 10, in which a resilent element is received, water resistant 42. As the resilent, water resistant element 32 illustrated in Figure 1, the elements 42 are made of silicone or rubber In addition to slot 40, each of the side walls 36 and 38 includes two additional slots 44 and 46 parallel to the final wall 12 and 14, respectively. In slots 44 and 46, the water resistant resilent elements are received similarly to item 42.

Slots 30, 40, 44 and 46 are formed in the sides of the end walls 12, 14 and side walls 36, 38 oriented towards the inside of the bathtub and the fixing means constituted by screws and the pins are placed in the final walls 12, 14 and side walls 36, 38 in one position where water cannot cause corrosion or damage to screws and dowels, while maintaining impermeability  from the bathtub

The elements illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are show as solid plates, however embodiments in which the final walls 12, 14, the bottom wall 10 and / or the walls laterals 36, 38 are made of a number of elements, which are they can be glued or mounted in other ways to provide a water resistant surface.

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References cited in the description

This list of references cited by the applicant is intended solely to help the reader and not It is part of the European patent document. Although it has been put maximum care in its realization, errors cannot be excluded or omissions and the EPO declines any responsibility to respect.

Patent documents cited in the description

EP 1459669 A [0003]

WO 04043214 A [0003]

JP 03037122 A [0003]

JP 05184476 A [0003]

US 261926 A [0003]

AU 5801180 A [0005]

Claims (18)

1. A bathtub comprising: a wooden bottom wall (10) that has a upper wall and a peripheral wall that define a circumference, a plurality of sidewall elements of wood (12, 14, 36, 38) connected to said lower wall of wood (10) in said circumference, defining each of the plurality of wooden sidewall elements (12, 14, 36, 38) an inner side and an outer side, said plurality of wooden sidewall elements (12, 14, 36, 38) interconnected to form a continuous circumferential wall that surrounding said lower wooden wall (10), jointly defining said continuous circumferential wall and said lower wall of wood (10) an internal space, each of said sides being sides of said wooden side walls oriented towards said internal space, a slot (30, 40) defined in each of said wooden sidewall elements on said side internal oriented towards said internal space in a position by under said upper wall of said lower wall of wood, at least one resilent element, resistant to water (32) received in each of said grooves (30, 40) defined in each of said wooden sidewall elements (12, 14, 36, 38), the bathtub being characterized by the fact that a first multitude of openings (22, 24) is defined in said peripheral wall of said lower wall of wood (10) and a second multitude of openings is defined in said plurality of wooden sidewall elements (12, 14, 36, 38) at a distance below said slot, being at minus a group of said first and said second crowd of interlocked openings, and a third multitude of fixing devices (26, 28) being received in said group of openings that are interlocked. 2. Bath according to claim 1, wherein said grooves (30, 40) are parallel to said upper surface of said lower wooden wall (10). 3. Bath according to any of the claims 1 or 2, wherein each of the elements of wooden side walls (12, 14, 36, 38) further defines a first and second opposite side edge, and each being said wooden elements connected to a wooden element contiguous because said first edge is mounted on said second Edge of the adjacent side wall wood element. 4. Bathtub according to claim 3, wherein said first edge is in contact with said inner side of said Adjoining wooden side wall element or as an alternative said second edge is in contact with said inner side of said side wall element of adjacent wood. 5. Bath according to claims 3 or 4, in which at least one of said side wall elements of wood also includes two additional slots (44, 46), each being one parallel to said first and second sides respectively. 6. Bathtub according to claim 5, including also a fourth multitude of openings defined in each of said plurality of wooden elements between said additional groove and said first and second side respectively, and a fifth multitude of fixing devices received in a pair of said first type of openings in a wooden element stop contiguous 7. Bath according to claim 4 or 5, in the that at least one waterproof, resilient element (42) is You can position in each of the additional slots. 8. Bath according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein a sixth crowd of openings is defined in the peripheral wall of said wall wooden bottom and a seventh multitude of openings is defined  in said plurality of wooden sidewall elements a a distance below said slot, at least two of said sixth and said seventh multitude of openings being positioned of interlocked form, and an eighth multitude of devices fixing received in at least two openings that are interlocked. 9. Bathtub according to claim 8, wherein said eighth multitude of fixing devices is constituted by pegs or wooden pins. 10. Bath according to any of the claims 1-9, wherein said third many fasteners are made up of screws or nails 11. Bath according to any of the claims 1-10, wherein said element Resilient, waterproof is made of rubber, silicone, asphalt, a synthetic material, a natural material or any combination thereof. 12. Bath according to any of the claims 1-11, wherein said wall wooden bottom and / or said plurality of wooden elements They are made of a type of hard and oily wood, such as teak, oak, beech, alternately pine. 13. Bath according to any of the claims 1-12, wherein said wall wooden bottom defines a general circular, elliptical geometry, round, square, oblong, rectangular, triangular, trapezoid, any curved configuration or any combination of same. 14. Bath according to any of the claims 1-13, wherein said wall wooden bottom defines a flat surface or alternatively a flat surface. 15. Bath according to any of the claims 1-14, wherein said plurality of wooden elements define a general circular geometry, semicircular, elliptical, semi-elliptical, round, semi-round, square, oblong, rectangular, triangular, trapezoid, any curved configuration or any combination thereof. 16. Bathtub according to claim 15, wherein at least one pair of said plurality of wooden elements define identical geometric configurations. 17. Bath according to any of the claims 1-16, wherein said wall bottom also includes an opening to drain liquid and / or at less one of said plurality of wooden elements further includes an opening to remove excess liquid. 18. Bath according to any of the claims 1-17, wherein said wall Wooden bottom is a solid plate or is composed of two or More wood elements.