Bathing assembly with water collection and dispersion

Abstract

A bathing unit as disclosed herein may include a base, a first panel, a second panel, and an independent u-shaped extrusion for ease of installation and that in combination collect and direct fluid away from support walls and to a collection area of the base. The bathing unit may be installed without use of a seal, such as, silicon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bathing unit for placement proximate to one or more walls of a building comprising:
 a base including a length, a width, a collection area, a first edge, and a second edge;   a first panel including a wall side, an exposed side, a first height, a first panel attaching side, and a first base end, the first base end shaped to engage at least the first edge of the base, the first panel attaching side including a first flange extending from the wall side away from the exposed side;   a second panel including a wall side, an exposed side, a second height approximately equal the first height, a second panel attaching side, and a second base end, the second base end shaped to engage the second edge of the base, the second panel attaching side including a second flange extending from the wall side away from the exposed side, the second panel attaching side configured to be positioned adjacent to the first panel attaching side; and   an extruded channel configured to receive the first flange and the second flange, the extruded channel shaped to direct water from the first and second flanges down toward the base and away from the one or more walls.   
     
     
         2 . The bathing unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the extruded channel is configured to be coupled to one of the one or more walls of the building independent of the first and second panels.   
     
     
         3 . The bathing unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base includes a recessed channel aligned with the extruded channel, the recessed channel shaped to receive water from the extruded channel and direct the water toward the collection area.   
     
     
         4 . The bathing unit of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the recessed channel includes an engagement protrusion configured to engage a lower end of the extruded channel.   
     
     
         5 . The bathing unit of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first and second panel attaching sides are aligned with the recessed channel.   
     
     
         6 . The bathing unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first edge includes a first back splash extending therefrom; and   a lower portion of the extruded channel overlaps the first back splash.   
     
     
         7 . The bathing unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first base end of the first panel is shaped to further engage a portion of the second edge of the base.   
     
     
         8 . The bathing unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first flange includes a first portion extending perpendicularly from the wall side at the first panel attaching side and a second portion angled relative to the first portion; and   the second flange includes a first portion extending perpendicularly from the wall side at the second panel attaching side and a second portion angled relative to the first portion, the second portion of the second flange configured to be adjacent to the second portion of the first flange when the first and second panels are positioned adjacent to each other and resting on the base.   
     
     
         9 . The bathing unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base includes a third edge;   further including a third panel including a wall side, an exposed side, a third height approximately equal to the first height, a third panel attaching side, and a third base end, the third base end shaped to engage at least the third edge of the base, the third panel attaching side including a third flange extending from the wall side away from the exposed side;   the second panel including a mirror panel attaching side, the mirror panel attaching side including a mirror flange extending from the wall side away from the exposed side, the mirror panel attaching side configured to be positioned adjacent to the third panel attaching side; and   further including an additional extruded channel configured to receive the third flange and the mirror flange, the additional extruded channel shaped to direct water from the third flange and the mirror flange down toward the base and away from the one or more walls.   
     
     
         10 . The bathing unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second panel includes a lower portion and an upper portion.   
     
     
         11 . A bathing unit for placement proximate to one or more walls of a building comprising:
 a base including a length, a width, a collection area, a first edge, a second edge, and at least one recessed channel defined in at least one of the first edge or the second edge to direct water towards the collection area;   a first panel including a wall side, an exposed side, a first height, a first panel attaching side, and a first base end, the first base end shaped to engage the first edge of the base; and   a second panel including a wall side, an exposed side, a second height approximately equal the first height, a second panel attaching side, and a second base end, the second base end shaped to engage the second edge, the second panel attaching side configured to be positioned adjacent to the first panel attaching side,   wherein a first recessed channel of the at least one recessed channel aligns with the first and second panel attaching sides when positioned adjacent to each other and resting on the base, the first recessed channel shaped to receive water from the first and second panel attaching sides and direct the water toward the collection area.   
     
     
         12 . The bathing unit of  claim 11 , further including:
 a u-shaped extrusion aligned with the first recessed channel, the u-shaped extrusion configured to receive a first flange of the first panel attaching side and a second flange of the second panel attaching side, the u-shaped extrusion shaped to direct water from the first and second flanges down toward the base and away from the one or more walls.   
     
     
         13 . The bathing unit of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the recessed channel includes a boss configured to engage a lower end of the u-shaped extrusion.   
     
     
         14 . The bathing unit of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first edge includes a first back splash extending therefrom; and   a lower portion of the u-shaped extrusion overlaps the first back splash.   
     
     
         15 . The bathing unit of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the u-shaped extrusion extends a majority of the first height and is independent of the first and second panels.   
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a bathing unit proximate to one or more walls of a building, the method comprising:
 positioning a base proximate to the one or more walls of the building, the base having a collection area, a first edge, a second edge, and a first recessed channel defined in the second edge to direct water towards the collection area;   aligning a first u-shaped extrusion with the first recessed channel, the first u-shaped extrusion configured to extend vertically from the base;   engaging at least the first edge of the base with a first panel, the first panel configured to extend vertically from the base and including a first flange configured to be received by the first u-shaped extrusion; and   engaging the second edge of the base with a second panel, the second panel configured to extend vertically from the base and including a second flange configured to be received by the first u-shaped extrusion.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the step of aligning the first u-shaped extrusion includes:
 coupling the first u-shaped extrusion to one of the one or more walls of the building.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , the step of aligning the first u-shaped extrusion includes:
 overlapping the first u-shaped extrusion with a back splash of the base.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving a lower end of the first u-shaped extrusion by a boss of the first recessed channel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 aligning a second u-shaped extrusion with a second recessed channel of the base, the second recessed channel defined in the second edge; and   engaging at least a third edge of the base with a third panel, the third panel configured to extend vertically from the base and including a third flange configured to be received by the second u-shaped extrusion,   wherein the second panel includes a mirror panel attaching side, the mirror panel attaching side including a mirror flange configured to be received by the second u-shaped extrusion.