Prefabricated shower pans and partially prefabricated shower pans having components manufactured using computer numerically controlled lathes and methods for making same

Abstract

Methods for creating tileable shower pans and resulting apparatus. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a tileable shower pan comprises the steps of: forming, through CNC lathing, a shower pan with a tileable shower pan floor containing a trench with a trench floor; selecting one or more additional tileable shower pan components selected from a group consisting of a standard drain, one or more sidewalls, one or more curbs, and one or more barrier free entrances; providing an aperture in the trench floor; and attaching a standard drain to the aperture in the trench at the time the trench is formed or any time thereafter. In another embodiment, a waterproof shower pan is disclosed comprising: a mortar bed or other handmade tileable shower pan floor; a trench formed through CNC lathing, the trench defining a drain aperture therein; a standard drain attached to the aperture at the time the trench is formed or any time thereafter; and one or more additional components of a tileable shower pan selected from the group consisting of one or more sidewalls, one or more curbs, and one or more barrier free entrances.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a tileable shower pan, comprising the steps of:
 forming, through CNC lathing, a shower pan with a tileable shower pan floor containing a trench with a trench floor;   selecting one or more additional tileable shower pan components selected from a group consisting of a standard drain, one or more sidewalls, one or more curbs, and one or more barrier free entrances;   providing an aperture in the trench floor;   attaching a standard drain to the aperture in the trench at the time the trench is formed or any time thereafter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 incorporating into the trench a liner which covers all or any portion of the trench.   
     
     
         3 . A method of manufacturing a tileable shower pan, comprising the steps of:
 forming, through CNC lathing, a component of a tileable shower pan, the component selected from a group consisting of a tileable shower pan floor with a trench and a standalone trench, the trench defining a trench floor;   providing an aperture in the trench floor;   providing one or more additional components of a tileable shower pan selected from the group consisting of a standard drain, one or more shower pan floor components, one or more sidewalls, one or more curbs, and one or more barrier free entrances;   attaching, if selected, the standard drain to the aperture at the time the trench is formed or any time thereafter; and   waterproofing one or more of the components and/or the additional components.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 incorporating into the trench a liner which covers all or any portion of the trench.   
     
     
         5 . The method of any of  claims 1  through  4 , wherein the tileable shower pan is selected from the group of tileable shower pans consisting of prefabricated shower pans and partially prefabricated shower pans. 
     
     
         6 . A waterproof shower pan, comprising;
 a shower pan formed through CNC lathing having (1) a tileable shower pan floor containing a trench with a trench floor, and (2) one or more additional tileable shower pan components selected from a group consisting of one or more sidewalls, one or more curbs, and one or more barrier free entrances;   an aperture in the trench floor.   
     
     
         7 . The shower pan of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a trench liner which covers all or any portion of the trench. 
 
     
     
         8 . A waterproof shower pan, comprising:
 a component of a tileable shower pan formed through CNC lathing selected from a group consisting of a trench and a tileable shower pan floor with a trench, the trench defining a trench floor;   an aperture in the trench floor;   a standard drain attached to the aperture at the time the trench is formed or any time thereafter; and   one or more additional components of a tileable shower pan selected from the group consisting of one or more sidewalls, one or more curbs, and one or more barrier free entrances.   
     
     
         9 . The shower pan of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a trench liner which covers all or any portion of the trench. 
 
     
     
         10 . The tileable shower pans of any of  claims 6  through  9 , wherein the tileable shower pan is selected from the group of tileable shower pans consisting of prefabricated shower pans and partially prefabricated shower pans. 
     
     
         11 . A waterproof shower pan, comprising:
 a mortar bed or other handmade tileable shower pan floor;   a trench formed through CNC lathing, the trench defining a drain aperture therein;   a standard drain attached to the aperture at the time the trench is formed or any time thereafter; and   one or more additional components of a tileable shower pan selected from the group consisting of one or more sidewalls, one or more curbs, and one or more barrier free entrances.