Shower floor mud forming device and methodology
10604950 ยท 2020-03-31
Inventors
Cpc classification
E04G21/185
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04F21/244
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04G21/10
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
Abstract
A shower floor mud forming device includes two rings, at least one section of the big ring, implanted into shower floor mud in desired location and orientation. Device installed without or with the slope guide which ensures correct location and orientation of the rings and section of the big ring. Those elements of the device are functioning as a support for screed tool, which removes/shaves off excess of the floor mud on top of the elements of the device. Correct location and orientation of those elements ensure desired smooth surface and desired slope of the shower floor mud, which ensures correct surface of the finished shower floor. Elements of the device can be reusable or disposable. Slope guide can be used with or without leveling adjusters. Slope guide can be used without or with the pole, which can be used for alternative way to verify level of the top surface of the slope guide.
Claims
1. A shower mud forming device, which is comprised of: a. a first screed ring; wherein the first screed ring has a screed edge and a bottom surface; b. a second screed ring; wherein the second screed ring has a screed edge and a bottom surface; c. a slope guide; wherein the slope guide has a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein the slope guide has a first end and a second end; wherein the slope guide has a first screed ring groove; wherein the first screed ring groove is provided on the bottom surface of the slope guide; wherein the slope guide provides a second screed ring groove; wherein the second screed ring groove is provided on the bottom surface of the slope guide; wherein the slope guide provides a plurality of holding screws.
2. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the first screed ring is further comprised of a plurality of screed ring segments.
3. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the second screed ring is further comprised of a plurality of screed ring segments.
4. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 2 wherein the plurality of first screed ring segments connect together to form a shape.
5. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 3 wherein the plurality of second screed ring segments connect together to form a shape.
6. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the first screed ring and second screed ring have a rigid structure.
7. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the first screed ring has a smaller diameter than the second screed ring.
8. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the first screed ring is concentrically placed within the second screed ring.
9. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein a handle is provided on the top surface of the slope guide.
10. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the first screed ring is on a separate horizontal plane from the second screed ring.
11. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein a screed is provided.
12. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 8 wherein the screed edge of the first screed ring has a lower altitude relative to the screed edge of second screed ring.
13. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the slope guide provides a plurality of leveling adjusters.
14. A shower mud forming device, which is comprised of: a. a first screed ring; wherein the first screed ring has a screed edge and a bottom surface; b. a second screed ring segment; wherein the second screed ring segment has a screed edge and a bottom surface; c. a slope guide; wherein the slope guide has a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein the slope guide has a first end and a second end; wherein the slope guide has a first screed ring groove; wherein the first screed ring groove is provided on the bottom surface of the slope guide; wherein the slope guide provides a second screed ring groove; wherein the second screed ring groove is provided on the bottom surface of the slope guide; wherein the slope guide provides a plurality of holding screws.
15. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 14 wherein the first screed ring is further comprised of a plurality of first screed ring segments.
16. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 14 wherein a plurality of second screed ring segments are provided.
17. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 15 wherein the plurality of first screed ring segments connect together to form a shape.
18. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 16 wherein the plurality of second screed ring segments connect together to form a shape.
19. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 14 wherein the first screed ring and second screed ring segment have a rigid structure.
20. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 14 wherein a handle is provided on the top surface of the slope guide.
21. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 14 wherein the first screed ring is on a separate horizontal plane from the second screed ring segment.
22. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 14 wherein a screed is provided.
23. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 21 wherein the screed edge of the first screed ring has a lower altitude relative to the screed edge of second screed ring segment.
24. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 14 wherein the slope guide provides a plurality of leveling adjusters.
25. A shower mud forming device, which is comprised of: a. a first screed ring; wherein the first screed ring has a screed edge and a bottom surface; b. a second screed ring; wherein the second screed ring has a screed edge and a bottom surface; c. a plurality of slope guides; wherein the plurality of slope guides have a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein the plurality of slope guides each have a first end and a second end; wherein each slope guide within the plurality of slope guides has a first screed ring groove; wherein the first screed ring groove is provided on the bottom surface of each slope guide within the plurality of slope guides; wherein each slope guide within the plurality of slope guides provides a second screed ring groove; wherein the second screed ring groove is provided on the bottom surface of each slope guide within the plurality of slope guides; wherein each slope guide within the plurality of slope guides provides a plurality of holding screws.
26. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein the first screed ring is further comprised of a plurality of screed ring segments.
27. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein the second screed ring is further comprised of a plurality of screed ring segments.
28. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 26 wherein the plurality of first screed ring segments connect together to form a shape.
29. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 27 wherein the plurality of second screed ring segments connect together to form a shape.
30. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein the first screed ring and second screed ring have a rigid structure.
31. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein the first screed ring has a smaller diameter than the second screed ring.
32. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein the first screed ring is concentrically placed within the second screed ring.
33. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein a handle is provided on the top surface of each of the slope guides.
34. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein the first screed ring is on a separate horizontal plane from the second screed ring.
35. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 25 wherein a screed is provided.
36. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 34 wherein the screed edge of the first screed ring has a lower altitude relative to the screed edge of second screed ring.
37. The shower mud forming device as described in claim 1 wherein the slope guide provides a plurality of leveling adjusters.
38. A method to use the shower mud forming device as described in claim 1, which is comprised of the following steps: a. placing mud on shower floor; b. positioning the first screed ring in the mud wherein the screed edge of the first screed ring is below the top surface of the drain; c. positioning the second screed ring in the mud wherein the screed edge of the second screed ring is higher than the screed edge of first screed ring; d. removing excess mud above the screed edge of the first screed ring and above the screed edge of the second screed ring with a screed tool.
39. A method to use the shower mud forming device as described in claim 1, which is comprised of: a. placing mud on shower floor; b. attaching the slope guide to the first screed ring and second screed ring; c. positioning the first screed ring in the mud wherein the screed edge of the first screed ring is below the top surface of the drain; d. positioning the second screed ring in the mud wherein the screed edge of the second screed ring is higher than the screed edge of first screed ring; e. pressing the slope guide with the first screed ring and second screed ring into the mud until the top surface of the slope guide is level with the top surface of the shower drain; f. removing slope guide from the first screed ring and the second screed ring; g. removing excess mud above the screed edge of the first screed ring and above the screed edge of the second screed ring with a screed tool.
40. A method to use the shower mud forming device as described in claim 14, which is comprised of: a. placing mud on shower floor; b. attaching the slope guide to the first screed ring and the second screed ring segment; c. positioning the first screed ring in the mud wherein the screed edge of the first screed ring is below the top surface of the drain; d. positioning the second screed ring segment in the mud wherein the screed edge of the second screed ring segment is higher than the screed edge of first screed ring; e. pressing the slope guide with the first screed ring and second screed ring segment into the mud until the top surface of the slope guide is level with the top surface of the shower drain; f. removing slope guide from the first screed ring and the second screed ring segment ; g. removing excess mud above the screed edge of the first screed ring and above the screed edge of the second screed ring segment with a screed tool.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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(2)
(3)
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(5)
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(10)
NUMBER REFERENCES
(11) 1Mud Forming Device (First embodiment) 2Shower drain 5First Screed Ring 10Second Screed Ring 11Segment of the Second Screed Ring 20Screed Edge 30Slope Guide 35op surface of the slope guide 40First ring groove 41Bottom of first ring groove 45Second ring groove 46Bottom of second ring groove 55Holding Screw 60Plurality of Leveling adjusters 65Recessed bottom surface of slope guide 70Handle 75Shower Floor Mud 80Screed Tool
LETTER REFERENCES
(12) AThe difference between depths of first ring groove and second ring groove BThe distance between the small screed ring and the large screed ring or large screed ring segment CThe distance between the small screed ring and the center of the drain DThe distance between the large screed ring or large screed ring segment and the center of the drain EDistance between the top surface of the slope guide and the screed edge of the large screed ring FDistance between the top surface of the slope guide and the screed edge of the small screed ring HDistance between the top surface of the drain and the top surface of the mud floor ZGeometric center of the drain, small screed ring, and large screed ring or screed ring segment
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
(13) In this first embodiment, this device is comprised of: a first screed ring 5, a second screed ring 10, and a slope guide 30. A screed ring is a rigid ring-shaped element with a predetermined shape which has a top edge and is commonly referred to as a screed edge 20. During the use of this device, a first screed ring 5 and a second screed ring 10, each having different desired radiuses and being placed on different horizontal planes, are located and placed on the shower floor mud. The first screed ring 5 has a smaller diameter than the second screed ring 10. The first screed ring 5 also has a lower altitude, which is below the top of the drain, relative to the second screed ring 10. Each screed ring has a predetermined height and thickness.
(14) The geometric centers of the screed rings are located on the same vertical axis,
(15) It is anticipated that this device may be alternatively comprised of a first screed ring 5 and at least one segment 11 of a second screed ring.
(16) Both first screed ring 5 and segment of the second screed ring 11 has a screed edge 20. The screed edge 20 is the top edge of a screed ring or segment of a screed ring and the screed edge 20 supports a screed 80. The screed rings, segment of a screed ring, or segments of a screed ring are also referred to, herein, as screed elements. The screed 80 is a rigid structurally sound element which has a straight edge, which is used for removing excess of the floor mud 75 which is above the screed elements, which are comprised of a first screed ring 5, and at least one segment of the second screed ring 10. The orientation and location of the screed edges 20 determines the desired orientation of the screed tool 80 such as depicted in
(17) The segments 11 of the second screed ring 10 are a plurality of rigid ring-shaped portions of a screed ring 10 that can be used in segments or interconnected together to form a complete screed ring. Different sized desired diameter screed rings can be formed and used in the installation of a shower floor mud surface. The segments of the screed ring can either be attachable to each other or not attachable to each other. The device could be used with the screed rings only; screed rings, slope guide(s); the screed ring, segments of the screed rings; the screed ring, segments of the screed rings, slope guide(s);
(18) The slope guide 30 is a rigid structurally sound element which holds together temporarily or permanently the first screed ring 5 and the second screed ring 10 and maintains the desired location and orientation of those screed rings in relation to each other. The purpose of the slope guide 30 is to ensure that the slope of the floor mud 75 is in line with building codes and standards. The slope guide 30 holds the screed elements in a desired location and orientation in three-dimensional space after the device is installed. On the bottom surface of the slope guide 30 are two ring grooves: a first ring groove 40 and a second ring groove 45 into which the first screed ring 5 and second screed ring 10 are respectively placed. The bottom surface of the first ring groove 41 is placed against the screed edge 20 of the first screed ring 5. The bottom surface of the second ring groove 46 is placed against the screed edge 20 of the second screed ring 10 or segment 11 of the second screed ring. The depth of the respective first ring groove 40 is different from the second ring groove 45 so that the screed rings can be properly positioned when implanted into shower floor mud 75. The depth of the first ring groove 40 has less depth than the second ring groove 45 to ensure the proper slope is achieved when the tool is installed such as depicted in
(19) Dimension F, which is shown in
(20) When the invention is installed properly, the desired dimension H, which is shown in
(21) The plurality of holding screws 55, which is shown in
(22) In an alternative embodiment, the slope guide may be modified such as depicted in
(23) The slope guide 30 may also incorporate a handle 70 on the slope guide's 30 top surface in order to use alternative level measuring tools, to determine horizontal orientation of the top surface of the slope guide 30. When handle 70 is vertical, the top surface of the slope guide 30 is horizontal.
(24) It is also anticipated that the slope guide can be used as a screed tool 80. For example, the horizontal surface 35 may be used to remove excess mud 75 from above the screed edges 20 of the screed elements.
(25) This device is usable with at least two ring-shaped screed elements with different desired geometric radiuses and temporarily or permanently embedded to the shower floor mud with desired location and orientation.
(26) The geometric centers of all ring-shaped elements are located on the same vertical axis Z, which passes through the center of a shower drain 2; each screed element is located on its own horizontal plane with a desired distance between them in vertical direction and with the desired difference between geometric radiuses of two elements.
(27) The screed rings are embedded into the shower floor mud for the purpose to create support for the screed tool which creates the desired surface of the shower floor mud with the desired slope to a shower drain such as depicted in
(28) When a tradesman is installing the shower floor he will pour a predetermined amount of shower floor mud on the shower floor area. After the shower floor mud has been poured, the first screed ring 5 and second screed ring 10 are placed on top of shower floor mud 75 and around the shower drain 2 in a desired location and orientation. There are four presented methods that the device may be used. All four methods create desired uniform slope to a drain with desired smooth surface of the shower floor mud.
(29) In the first method, only two screed rings of the device are used: a first screed ring and a second ring. This method is used when entire area of the shower floor could be done at the same time. The first method is to place mud on the shower floor and then position the screed rings, where the first screed ring is at the center of the second screed ring and the drain 2 of the shower is at the center of the first screed ring. The screed edge of the second screed ring is higher than the screed edge of the first screed ring. The screed edge of the first screed ring is below the top of the shower drain at the desired distance. Top edge of the big ring and small ring are in two different horizontal planes, with desired distance between those planes. After both rings are correctly installed and firmly implanted into floor mud, user/operator drops more mud on top of the rings. Then mud should be pressed down/packed by a flat trowel before excess of the floor mud, which is above the rings, removed/shaved off with a screed tool. Desired distance between top edges of big ring and small ring in radial direction determines sloped surface of the floor mud. When both rings are disposable, they can be left inside a floor mud. Reusable rings should be removed and the empty gaps left from the removable of the rings are filled with mud and the surface of the floor mud fixed with a flat trowel. Once the shower floor mud is ironed out with a flat trowel, the shower floor mud job is considered to be finished.
(30) In the second method, three elements of the device are used: first screed ring, the segment of the second screed ring, and the slope guide. This method should be used when, a mud job should be performed section by section, or when the shower drain 2 is close to the wall. After all elements are assembled together and the floor mud is placed on the shower floor, the device is placed on top of the floor mud with the shower drain located at the center of the first screed ring. Then the slope guide 30, with all elements attached, is pressed into the floor mud until top surface of the slope guide 30 is horizontal and top edge of the first screed ring is located below the top of the drain at the desired distance. The slope guide 30, thereby automatically generates the desired distance between the screed edges of the first screed ring and the segment of the second screed ring in vertical and horizontal radial direction. Also, when the top surface of the slope guide is horizontal, slope guide ensures horizontal position of both elements of the device. After the assembled device and elements are correctly installed and the elements are firmly implanted into the floor mud, the slope guide 30 is then unattached and removed.
(31) Then the user/operator drops more mud on top of the working area/section of the shower floor. Then mud should be pressed down/packed by a flat trowel before excess of the floor mud removed/shaved off with a screed tool. Small ring and segment of the big ring are temporarily left inside the mud in a first section of a shower floor area. Then the other segment of the big ring can be installed on top of mud in second section, for instance in opposite direction of the shower floor area. Second segment of the big ring attached to the slope guide. Then the device can be placed on the opposite side of the shower floor. The top edge of the first screed ring 5, which is already implanted into floor mud, should fit into related ring's groove 40 of the slope guide 30. After device is located correctly, the slope guide is pressed into the floor mud until the screed edge 20 of a first screed ring touches the bottom of the related ring's groove and until the top surface 35 of the slope guide 30 is horizontal. The slope guide 30 automatically generates desired location and orientation of two elements of the device. After the assembled device is correctly installed and the elements are firmly implanted into the floor mud, the slope guide 30 is then unattached and removed. After the second segment of the big ring firmly implanted into floor mud, user/operator drops more mud on top of the working area (second section of a shower floor area). Then mud should be pressed down/packed by a flat trowel before excess of the floor mud removed/shaved off with a screed tool. Then, two more segments of the big ring can be installed. When two segments of the big ring implanted in two opposite sections of a shower floor with the help of a slope guide, other two section of the big ring can be installed without slope guide. Those two can be implanted into mud with bare hands and with the same floor mud operational procedure.
(32) After all four areas of the shower floor are done, the disposable elements can be left inside a floor mud. The reusable elements should be removed, the empty gaps filled with mud, and the surface of the floor mud fixed or ironed by a flat trowel. The shower floor mud job is then considered finished. The user may utilize a plurality of level adjusters 60, when he uses a slope guide 30. Also, the user can use a pole, in order to use alternative way to verify level of the top surface of the slope guide, when he installs device.
(33) With the third method, three elements of the device are used: small ring, big ring, slope guide. This method used when entire era of the shower floor could be done at the same time. This method is similar to the first method, which didn't use the slope guide. This method is using a slope guide in order to make this method more effective comparatively to the first one. Slope guide automatically establishes correct location and orientation of small ring and big ring, and therefore simplifies, speeds up process and increases level of precision. After all elements assembled together and floor mud placed on the floor, device placed on top of the floor mud as shower drain located at the center of a small ring. Then slope guide, with all elements attached, pressed into the floor mud until top surface of the slope guide is horizontal and top edge of a small ring located below the top of the drain in desired distance. Slope guide automatically generates desired distance between top edges of the small ring and the big ring in vertical and in horizontal radial direction. After assembled device and elements correctly installed and elements firmly implanted into floor mud, slope guide then unattached and removed. Then user/operator drops more mud on top of the working area. Then mud should be pressed down/packed by a flat trowel before excess of the floor mud removed/shaved off with a screed tool. Disposable elements can be left inside a floor mud. Reusable elements removed, empty gaps filled with mud, surface of the floor mud fixed, ironed by a flat trowel. Shower floor mud job considered finished. The user may utilize level adjusters, when he use slope guide. Also, user can use a pole, in order to use alternative way to verify level of the top surface of the slope guide, when he installs device.
(34) With the fourth method, more than three elements of the device are used: small ring, big ring, and more than one slope guide. This method is similar to the third method with the difference that device has more than one slope guide.
(35) This method primarily used with completely disposable elements, which can be left implanted into floor mud. Small ring and big ring are disposable. Slope guides made cheap and can be disposable and in some instances can be reusable.
(36) After all elements assembled together and floor mud placed on the floor, device placed on top of the floor mud as shower drain located at the center of a small ring. Then entire structure of the device, with all elements attached, pressed into the floor mud until top surfaces of all slope guides are horizontal and top edge of a small ring located below the top of the drain in desired distance. Slope guides automatically generates desired distance between top edges of the small ring and the big ring in vertical and in horizontal radial direction. After assembled device and elements correctly installed and elements firmly implanted into floor mud, slope guides then unattached and removed if those are reusable. Then user/operator drops more mud on top of the working area of the shower floor. Then mud should be pressed down/packed by a flat trowel before excess of the floor mud removed/shaved off with a screed tool. After excess of the floor mud shaved off, surface of the floor mud ironed with a flat trowel. Shower floor mud job considered finished. The user may utilize level adjusters, when it present.
(37) This device may be further comprised of a screed 80. A screed is the term used to describe a rigid object with a straight edge that is drawn over freshly poured concrete/mud on top of specially designed rigid and stable support. Device described herein is a rigid buildup support for the screed and described in three separate embodiments. Shape of this support determines shape of the shower floor mud surface. The support is comprised of a plurality of screed elements. A screed element may be a screed ring or a segment of a screed ring. A screed edge is a top edge of each of the screed elements of the device that are in contact with a screed while in use. When the screed is moved on the screed edge of the screed elements, it forms the desired slope and shape of the floor mud surface by removing excess of the mud, which is above those elements of the device. Mud which left below screed edges forms the desired or required shape.