Low profile shower base

Abstract

A low profile shower base includes a base, a threshold cover element and a support structure. The base has a floor with a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the floor, including a threshold wall section at the shower entrance, and with a drain hole located in a catchment area of the floor adjacent to the threshold wall section. The support structure holds the threshold cover element in position contiguous to the threshold wall section above the drain hole, the support structure including spaced elements that allow drainage of water therethrough under the threshold cover element and that allow the threshold cover element to be moved to give access to the catchment area.

1 . A low profile shower base, comprising:
 a) a base having a floor with a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the floor, including a threshold wall section at the shower entrance, and with a drain hole located in a catchment area of the floor adjacent to the threshold wall section;   b) a threshold cover element; and   c) a support structure for holding the threshold cover element in position contiguous to the threshold wall section above the drain hole, the support structure including spaced apart elements that allow drainage of water therethrough under the threshold cover element and that allow the threshold cover element to be moved to give access to the catchment area.   
     
     
         2 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , in which the shower entrance is located at the front of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The shower base, according to  claim 2 , in which the floor is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , in which the support structure is integral with the base. 
     
     
         5 . The shower base, according to  claim 4 , in which the support structure includes a ledge extending along the threshold wall section upon which the threshold cover element can rest. 
     
     
         6 . The shower base, according to  claim 5 , in which the support structure includes a line of supports extending upwardly from the floor and separated by passages. 
     
     
         7 . The shower base, according to  claim 6 , in which the supports have shoulders upon which the threshold cover element can rest. 
     
     
         8 . The shower base, according to  claim 7 , in which the supports demarcate a transition between the floor pan area and the catchment area of the floor. 
     
     
         9 . The shower base, according to  claim 5 , in which the support structure includes at least one support member extending downwardly from the threshold cover element. 
     
     
         10 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , in which the threshold cover element includes a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         11 . The shower base, according to  claim 10 , in which the plurality of openings are discrete holes or substantially parallel elongate openings. 
     
     
         12 . The shower base, according to  claim 10 , in which the threshold cover element is a grate. 
     
     
         13 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , in which the threshold cover element is a plate. 
     
     
         14 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , further includes a ramp element extending outwardly from the threshold wall section; and a platform insert adapted to rest upon the bottom of the base behind the threshold cover element providing a generally level upper surface and providing the drainage of water there through. 
     
     
         15 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , in which the drain hole has a cover and the top of the threshold cover element is approximately  2  inches above the cover of the drain hole. 
     
     
         16 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , in which the overall height of the base is approximately 2-¼ inches. 
     
     
         17 . The shower base, according to  claim 1 , in which the bottom slopes downwardly in a floor pan area toward the threshold wall section. 
     
     
         18 . A shower enclosure installation, comprising a low profile shower base, according to  claim 1 , installed directly on a support structure for a finished floor. 
     
     
         19 . The installation, according to  claim 18 , in which the support structure is floor joists.