Floor Element for Installation in a Floor of a Building Room and System Comprising Such a Floor Element

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor element (1) for installation in a floor of a building room, in particular a sanitary room, which is provided with a personal scale (3), preferably an electronic or electromechanical personal scale, or a measuring device for measuring a measured variable proportional to the weight force. The floor element (1) is preferably designed as a shower tray or shower floor element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising such a floor element (1) and a display device (10), wherein the display device (10) can be remotely and/or variably positioned relative to the floor element (1).

Claims

1. A floor element for installation in a floor of a building room, in particular a sanitary room, characterized in that the floor element is provided with a personal scale, preferably an electronic or electromechanical personal scale, or a measuring device for measuring a measured variable proportional to a weight force.

2. The floor element according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor element is designed as a shower tray or shower floor element.

3. The floor element according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor element has a receptacle in or on its upper side, preferably a recess for receiving the measuring device or the personal scale.

4. The floor element according to claim 3, characterized in that a drain opening is formed in the receptacle.

5. The floor element according to claim 4, characterized in that the measuring device or the personal scale has a tread surface which, together with the receptacle, delimits an inlet gap.

6. The floor element according to claim 5, characterized in that the tread surface and the upper side of the floor element surrounding the receptacle are designed to be flush with one another.

7. The floor element according to claim 5, characterized in that a display device for displaying measured weight values and/or other measured values is integrated in the tread surface.

8. The floor element according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring device or the personal scale is provided with one or more height-adjustable spacer elements.

9. The floor element according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor element is arranged on a floor element support which is provided with sensors for measuring a measured variable proportional to a weight force.

10. The floor element according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor element is provided on its underside with sensors for measuring a measured variable proportional to a weight force.

11. A system comprising a floor element according to claim 1 and a display device, wherein the display device can be remotely and/or variably positioned relative to the floor element.

12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that the display device is provided with one or more operating elements for controlling a shower function and/or for the input of personal data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by means of a drawing representing several embodiments. It shows schematically:

[0024] FIG. 1 a section of a bathroom with a shower cell equipped with a floor element in the form of a shower tray and a personal scale, in a perspective view;

[0025] FIG. 2 an enlarged view of detail A from FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 the shower tray from FIG. 1 with a receptacle for a personal scale, a shower tray support and the personal scale, in a perspective exploded view;

[0027] FIG. 4 a section of a bathroom with a shower cell equipped with a floor element in the form of a shower tray and an integrated weighting function, in a perspective exploded view;

[0028] FIG. 5 an enlarged representation of detail A of FIG. 4;

[0029] FIG. 6 the shower tray from FIG. 4, a shower tray support and pressure transducers (pressure sensors), in a perspective exploded view;

[0030] FIG. 7 the shower tray from FIG. 4 according to a third embodiment, in a perspective bottom view;

[0031] FIG. 8 a section of a bathroom with a shower cell, which is equipped with a floor element in the form of a shower floor element and a personal scale, according to a fourth embodiment, in a perspective exploded view;

[0032] FIG. 9 an enlarged representation of detail A of FIG. 8; and

[0033] FIG. 10 a lower section of the shower cell from FIG. 8 in an enlarged exploded view, showing the bathroom scale, a drain grate and a drain opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the invention. Shown is a tray-shaped floor element 1 for installation in the floor of a bathroom. The floor element 1 is designed as a shower tray, for example. In the upper side of the shower tray 1, a recess 2 is formed to accommodate a personal scale 3. The personal scale 3 is a self-sufficient scale, which is preferably designed as an electronic or electromechanical scale and is integrated into the shower tray 1 as an additional part.

[0035] The shower tray 1, for example, is made of fiber-reinforced plastic or sheet steel, with the formed sheet steel coated with enamel. For stable storage of shower tray 1, it is mounted on a tray support 4, which is, for example, frame-shaped.

[0036] A drain opening 5 is formed in the recess (receptacle) 2 of the shower tray 1. On the underside of the shower tray 1, a drain fitting with an odor trap (cf. FIG. 7) is or is connected to the drain opening 5. The recess 2 of the shower tray 1 is designed in such a way that the personal scale 3 to be inserted in it is inevitably centered when inserted. The scale 3 has feet or spacers on its underside so that it is at a distance from the base of the recess 2 when inserted. In the base of the recess 2, elongated troughs 6 are formed for centering the scale 3. The longitudinal axes of these troughs run in the direction of the drain opening 5 and essentially at right angles to each other. The feet (spacers) of the scale 3 engage positively in the troughs 6 when the scale is inserted, whereby the scale 3 is centered in the recess 2 and defines with it a circumferential inlet gap 7, through which water flowing from a shower head 8 can flow to the drain opening 5.

[0037] The depth of the recess (receptacle) 2 and the height of the personal scale 3 are dimensioned in such a way that the tread surface 3.1 of the scale 3, when inserted, is essentially flush with the upper side 1.1 of the shower tray 1 surrounding the recess. For fine adjustment, the feet of scale 3 are preferably designed as height-adjustable spacers.

[0038] A display device 3.2 for displaying weight readings is integrated in the tread surface 3.1. Furthermore, the tread surface 3.1 of scale 3 can be provided with a marking 3.3, which indicates an ideal standing position for weight measurement to the user of the scale. Marking 3.3 consists, for example, of an image of footprints.

[0039] In addition to the display device 3.2 integrated in the tread surface 3.1, a second display device 10 may be assigned to the shower tray 1 as well as to the scale 3, the second display device 10 being remotely and preferably variably positionable relative to the shower tray 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the second or additional display device 10 is arranged on a wall 11 of the shower cell, approximately halfway up the shower cell. The display device 10 is thus in a better viewing area than the display device 3.2 integrated in the tread surface 3.1. The display device 10 mounted on the wall 11 of the shower cell is equipped with one or more operating elements 12, 13 for controlling a shower function and/or for the input of personal data.

[0040] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the invention. Shown again is a tray-shaped floor element 1 for installation in the floor of a bathroom, whereby the floor element 1 is designed as a shower tray.

[0041] This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the shower tray 1 has no recess for accommodating a self-sufficient scale 3. The construction of the shower tray 1 can correspond to the construction and design of a normal or already existing shower tray. For stable mounting of the shower tray 1, it is mounted on a tray support 4 similar to the shower tray 1 as shown in FIG. 3. The outer edge of the shower tray 1 is elastically connected to the floor 14 and the walls 11, 11 of the shower cell. The elastic connection 15 is preferably designed in the form of an elastic sealing joint, for example a silicone joint.

[0042] In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the tray support 4 is equipped with sensors 16 for measuring a measured variable proportional to the weight force. The sensors 16 are, for example, designed as pressure transducers (load cells) with one or more strain gauges or capacitors. The sensors (pressure transducers) 16 are preferably arranged on the underside of the tray support 4, for example on or in foot sections 4.1 of the tray support 4.

[0043] The base 1.1 of the shower tray 1 also serves as a tread surface for the scale or weighing function integrated in the tray support 4. The upper side of the shower tray base 1.1 is provided with a marking 1.3, which shows the user of the weighing function an ideal standing position for weight measurement. The marking 1.3 is located in the middle area of the shower tray bottom 1.1. This is also where the drain opening 5 of the shower tray 1 can be located, for example. The drain opening 5, for example, is provided with a cover 17 which, together with the base of the shower tray 1.1, defines a circumferential inlet gap 7 on its outer circumference.

[0044] The weight determined is displayed by means of a display device 10, which is located at a distance from the shower tray 1, for example on a wall 11 of the shower cell. The display device 10 comprises a measuring signal evaluation unit by means of which the measuring signals emitted by the sensors 16 are converted into proportional weight values. As in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device 10 is combined with one or more operating elements 12, 13 for controlling a shower function and/or for the input of personal data.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 6. This embodiment differs from the configuration according to FIG. 6 in that the shower tray 1 is equipped on its underside with sensors 16 for measuring a measured variable proportional to the weight force. The sensors 16 are designed in the form of strain gauges, whereby, for example, four strain gauges 16 are attached, for example glued, transversely to one another and essentially evenly spaced from one another in the central area of the shower tray 1.1. The strain gauges 16 are used to measure the deformation of the shower tray bottom 1.1, which is dependent on the load on the shower tray bottom 1.1. The measuring signals emitted by the strain gauges 16 when the shower tray 1 is loaded are converted by the measuring signal evaluation unit combined with the display device 10 into proportional weight values and the latter are displayed by the display device 10.

[0046] A drain fitting mounted on the drain opening 5 of the shower tray 1 has a drain housing 19 in which an odor trap is formed. The drain housing 19 is provided with a connection piece 20 which is connected to a wastewater pipe via a flexible, preferably elastic pipe section (not shown), for example a rubber hose section or a rubber bellows, to make it liquid-tight. The base 1.1 of shower tray 1 is thus elastically deformable within certain limits.

[0047] FIGS. 8 to 10 show a fourth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 in that a floor element 1 according to the invention for installation in a floor of a sanitary room, in particular a bathroom, is designed as a shower floor element. The shower floor element 1 is intended for the installation of a shower or shower cell at floor level, the floor area 21 of which is covered with tiles or natural stone slabs. The shower floor element 1 is essentially plate-shaped for this purpose and can therefore also be described as a shower board.

[0048] The shower floor element 1 has, for example, a plate-shaped body (not shown) made of rigid foam, in which a drain opening 5 is formed. On the upper side of the plate-shaped body, a trough-shaped receptacle 2 is arranged, which has a drain socket that projects into or penetrates the drain opening 5. At the transition of the bottom 2.1 of the trough-shaped receptacle 2 to the drain socket, a shoulder is formed for the positive-locking reception of a drain grating 22. In particular, the trough-shaped receptacle 2 has a vertically projecting, circumferential web 2.2, which is preferably formed in one piece with the base 2.1 of receptacle 2. The upper side of the plate-shaped body made of rigid foam is or is preferably provided with a sealing foil or sealing membrane (not shown) prior to the application of the trough-shaped receptacle 2, which is/is sealingly connected to the drain opening 5 or the drain socket. Outside the circumferential web 2.2 of the tub-shaped receptacle 2, the plate-shaped body coated with a sealing foil or sealing membrane in a liquid-tight manner is covered with tiles or natural stone slabs. The tiles or natural stone slabs are laid with a slight incline in the direction of the trough-shaped receptacle 2, whereby the upper edge of the circumferential web 2.2 is slightly lower than the upper side of the tiles or natural stone slabs. The circumferential web 2.2 corresponds to an end rail.

[0049] The trough-shaped receptacle 2 serves to accommodate a personal scale 3, which may correspond to the self-sufficient personal scale 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Likewise, the shower floor element 1 shown in FIG. 10 or the personal scale 3 used therein can be combined with a second display device 10. In order to avoid repetition regarding the configuration of the personal scale 3 as well as the configuration of the second display device 10, reference is made to the above description of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0050] The execution of the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the attached drawing. Rather, numerous variants are conceivable which, even in the case of a configuration deviating from the embodiments shown, make use of the invention indicated in the attached claims. For example, a floor element 2 or a system according to the invention can also be placed independently of a shower or floor drain. The floor element 2 in accordance with the invention could be integrated flush with the floor of the bathroom or another room in the building and would then be part of the floor there.