Shower track guide system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839330-B2
Application number	US-201414207125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A shower track guide system for a shower enclosure may include an elevated track positioned above a base and at least one stand disposed between the base and the track. The track may be mounted to the at least one stand. A shower door may be movable along a top of the track to permit access to the shower enclosure. The stand may elevate the track above the base to permit water to flow underneath the track.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shower track guide system for a shower enclosure, the system comprising:
an elevated track positioned above a base;
at least one stand disposed between the base and the track, the track mounted above the at least one stand such that an upper surface of the at least one stand contacts a lowermost surface of the elevated track and a lower surface of the at least one stand contacts the base; and
at least one guide coupled to a shower door of the shower enclosure, the at least one guide being configured to permit the shower door to move along a top of the track to permit access to the shower enclosure;
wherein the at least one stand elevates the track above the base to permit water to flow underneath the track,
wherein the at least one guide is configured to travel along an uppermost surface of the elevated track in a direction of door movement,
wherein no portion of the shower door is disposed lower than the uppermost surface of the elevated track, and
wherein a movable connection is provided between the shower door and the elevated track without the at least one guide being disposed within the elevated track.

2. The shower track guide system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide includes a body portion disposed on the track, the guide further including side portions that extend from opposing sides of the body portion towards the base.

3. The shower track guide system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one guide is configured slide along the top of the track.

4. The shower track guide system of claim 2 , wherein the side portions at least partially envelop the track.

5. The shower track guide system of claim 4 , wherein a transverse section of the track is narrower than a width of the body portion of the guide.

6. The shower track guide system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide comprises a bearing disposed on the track, the bearing being configured to support the shower door.

7. The shower track guide system of claim 1 , wherein elevation of the track above the base prevents water from accumulating between the shower door and the track.

8. The shower track guide system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stand comprises at least two stands, wherein a height of a first stand of the at least two stands is different from a height of a second stand of the at least two stands.

9. The shower track guide system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stand maintains a clearance between the track and the base.

10. The shower track guide system of claim 1 , wherein:
the uppermost surface of the elevated track is substantially planar; and
the at least one guide encloses the uppermost surface of the track.

11. The shower track guide system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one guide includes a body portion disposed on the track and side portions that extend from opposing sides of the body portion towards the base; and
each of the side portions has a length that is less than a distance between the base and the lower surface of the elevated track.

12. A shower track guide system for a bypass shower door system including at least one shower door, the shower guide track system comprising:
a track along which the shower door is movable, wherein the track is elevated above a base by at least one stand coupled to the track to allow water to flow underneath the elevated track, the track being mounted above the at least one stand such that an upper surface of the at least one stand contacts a lowermost surface of the track and a lower surface of the at least one stand contacts the base; and
at least one guide coupled to the shower door, the at least one guide configured to move along a top of the track; and
wherein a clearance between the track and the base is maintained by the at least one stand coupled to the track,
wherein the at least one guide is configured to travel along an uppermost surface of the elevated track in a direction of door movement,
wherein no portion of the shower door is disposed lower than the uppermost surface of the elevated track,
wherein a movable connection is provided between the shower door and the elevated track without the at least one guide being disposed within the elevated track, and
wherein respective ends of the at least one stand are defined between the lowermost surface of the track and the base.

13. The shower track guide system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one guide includes a body portion, the at least one guide further comprising side portions that extend from opposing sides of the body portion towards the base.

14. The shower track guide system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one guide includes a bearing disposed on the track, the bearing being configured to support the shower door.

15. The shower track guide system of claim 12 , wherein the track is mounted above the at least one stand, wherein the at least one stand is disposed between the track and the base.

16. A shower enclosure comprising:
an elevated track positioned above a base;
a shower door movable along a top of the track;
at least one stand coupled to the track and configured to provide a clearance between the track and the base, the track being mounted above the at least one stand such that an upper surface of the at least one stand contacts a lowermost surface of the track and a lower surface of the at least one stand contacts the base, and
at least one guide coupled to the shower door, the at least one guide being configured to permit the shower door to move along a top of the elevated track to permit access to the shower enclosure,
wherein a height of the clearance corresponds to an elevation of the track above the at least one stand to permit water to flow underneath the track,
wherein the at least one guide is configured to travel along an uppermost surface of the elevated track in a direction of door movement,
wherein no portion of the shower door is disposed lower than the uppermost surface of the elevated track, and
wherein a movable connection is provided between the shower door and the elevated track without the at least one guide being disposed within the elevated track.

17. The shower enclosure of claim 16 , wherein the at least one guide is configured as an attachment coupled to the shower door, wherein the attachment is configured to move in tandem with the door along the top of the track.

18. The shower enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the attachment at least partially envelops the track.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Aykens Steven R
• Johnson Mark A
• Marlowe James L
• Corpuz Jr Roque M
• Pairolero Nicholas
• Bates Michael R

Classifications

• A47K3/34 Primary

  Slidable screens (A47K3/36 takes precedence) · CPC title