Shower threshold and methods of implementation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9856690-B2
Application number	US-201615287004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2016
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A shower threshold and a method of implementing a shower threshold are disclosed. The shower threshold includes an elongated base component having one or more sidewalls extending from a base region of the elongated base component to an apex of the elongated base portion. The shower threshold also includes a flexible cap coupled to and extending from the elongated base component along the apex of the elongated base component. The flexible cap may be composed of a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers includes a core layer and a shell layer. The core layer is composed of a material that is softer than the shell layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A shower threshold comprising:
an elongated base component having one or more sidewalls extending from a base portion of the elongated base component to an apex of the elongated base component, wherein at least one of the one or more sidewalls includes a sloped surface extending upward from the base portion to the apex;
a flexible cap coupled to and extending from the elongated base component along the apex, the flexible cap comprising a plurality of layers; and
a center-guide coupled to the inclined surface, the center-guide extending partially along the elongated base component;
wherein the center-guide includes a plurality of walls forming a channel disposed between at least two walls of the plurality of walls, and
wherein the plurality of layers of the flexible cap includes a core layer, a shell layer, and a contact layer coupled to at least a portion of an outer layer of the shell layer, wherein the core layer comprises a material that is less rigid than the shell layer and the contact layer includes a material having a greater rigidity than the shell layer.

2. The shower threshold of claim 1 , wherein the apex includes a planar surface.

3. The shower threshold of claim 2 , wherein the flexible cap covers the planar surface.

4. The shower threshold of claim 2 , wherein the planar surface includes a recess positioned therein.

5. The shower threshold of claim 4 , wherein the flexible cap includes an engagement fin extending therefrom, the engagement fin positioned in the recess.

6. The shower threshold of claim 5 , wherein the recess includes a plurality of ridges, configured to engage the engagement fin.

7. The shower threshold of claim 1 , wherein the elongated base component comprises extruded aluminum.

8. The shower threshold of claim 1 , wherein the core layer is foam.

9. The shower threshold of claim 1 , wherein the shell layer is polymeric.

10. The shower threshold of claim 1 , wherein the contact layer includes a metal.

11. The shower threshold of claim 1 , wherein the contact layer includes a polymer.

12. The shower threshold of claim 1 , wherein the flexible cap includes at least one shroud extending from the flexible cap, the shroud extending from the apex to at least one of the one or more sidewalls.

13. A method of implementing a shower threshold comprising:
coupling a flexible cap to an elongated base component to define a threshold, the elongated base component having one or more sidewalls extending from a base region of the elongated base component to an apex of the elongated base component, the flexible cap coupled to the elongated base component such that the flexible cap extends from the elongated base component along the apex, the flexible cap comprising a plurality of layers;
securing the threshold at a base of an opening to a shower; and
positioning at least one shower door in the opening such that a base of the at least one shower door is adjacent to the flexible cap and positioned between the shower and the flexible cap;
wherein the plurality of layers of the flexible cap includes a core layer, a shell layer, and a contact layer coupled to at least a portion of an outer layer of the shell layer, wherein the core layer comprises a material that is less rigid than the shell layer and the contact layer includes a material having a greater rigidity than the shell layer.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one shower door includes at least one sliding shower door.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising guiding the at least one sliding shower door via the flexible cap when the at least one sliding shower door is moved from a first end of the opening to a second end of the opening.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the one or more sidewalls includes an inclined surface extending upward from the base region of the elongated base component to the apex of the elongated base component.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling a center-guide to the inclined surface, the center-guide extending partially along the elongated base component.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Ball Matthew Joseph
• Taingtae Weerasak

Classifications

• E06B1/702

  Window sills · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• E06B1/70 Primary

  Sills; Thresholds · CPC title

• A47K3/40

  Pans or trays · CPC title

• A47K3/34 Primary

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