Emergency Safety Shower and Floor Grate System

Abstract

An emergency shower and flooring system includes a railing system and a grate system. The railing system includes a first rail and a second rail extending laterally from a first side to second side of the emergency shower. The grate system includes a plurality of grates extending from the first rail to the second rail. The grates are arranged side-by-side along a length of the railing system. Each grate includes a floor surface, a first sidewall extending downward from a first side edge of the floor surface, and a second sidewall extending downward from a second side edge of the floor surface. The first and second sidewalls each include a front tab at their respective front edges and a rear tab at their respective rear edges. Each tab is configured to interfit with a respective slot of a plurality of slots formed in the first and second rails.

Claims

1. An emergency shower flooring system comprising: a railing system including a first rail and a second rail extending laterally from a first side of an emergency shower to second side of the emergency shower; a grate system including a plurality of grates extending from the first rail to the second rail, the plurality of grates being arranged side-by-side along a length of the railing system, each grate including: a floor surface having a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge a first sidewall extending downward from the first side edge of the floor surface, the first sidewall having a front edge and a rear edge; a second sidewall extending downward from the second side edge of the floor surface, the second sidewall having a front edge and a rear edge; the first and second sidewalls each including a front tab at their respective front edges and a rear tab at their respective rear edges, each tab configured to interfit with a respective slot of a plurality of slots disposed along a length of the first and second rails.

2. The emergency shower flooring system of claim 1, wherein adjacent grates of the grate system are spaced apart from each to provide a fluid access region between the adjacent grates.

3. The emergency shower flooring system of claim 1, wherein the first and second rails include a horizontal support surface configured to support the plurality of grates of the grate system.

4. The emergency shower flooring system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of slots are formed in the support surface of the first and second rails.

5. The emergency shower flooring system of claim 1, wherein the first and second rails include a bottom portion in contact with a floor of the emergency shower.

6. The emergency shower flooring system of claim 1, wherein the first and second rails include openings formed in an upright portion thereof, the openings configured to allow water to flow through the upright portion of the first and second rails.

7. The emergency shower flooring system of claim 1, wherein the grates include a rounded edge at at least one of the front edge and the rear edge of the floor surface thereof.

8. The emergency shower flooring system of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the grate system vertically aligns with a threshold of the emergency shower.

9. A method of installing a flooring system into an emergency safety shower, the method comprising: installing a plurality of rails on a floor of the emergency safety shower, each rail including a bottom portion in contact with the floor and a support surface; installing a grate system on the support surfaces of the plurality of rails, the grate system including a plurality of grates extending between the plurality of rails; spacing adjacent grates of the grate system from each other to provide a space between adjacent grates for water to flow through; securing the plurality of grates to the plurality of rails via a connection system including a plurality of tabs and slots associated with the plurality of grates and rails.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein securing the plurality of grates to the plurality of rails includes inserting the plurality of tabs extending from a bottom portion of each of the grates into corresponding slots of the plurality of slots formed in the support surface of each of the rails.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein securing the plurality of grates to the plurality of rails includes aligning a top surface of the plurality of grates with a threshold of the emergency safety shower.

12. An enclosed emergency safety shower comprising: a plurality of walls forming a safety shower enclosure; a floor near a bottom edges of the walls; at least two struts forming a flooring system above the floor, the flooring system including a grate system having at least two generally U-shaped stainless steel channels; a plurality of tabs locating the channels on the struts; a plurality of slots locating the channels on the struts; and a drain located beneath the grate system.

13. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 12, further comprising spaces between the channels to provide high drainage capacity and slip resistance.

14. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 12, further comprising a relatively smooth and narrow surface on at least one channel to facilitate easy cleaning and efficient water shed.

15. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 12, wherein the at least two channels are installed individually into the grate system.

16. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 12, further comprising a top channel surface and a bottom channel portion opposite the top channel surface, the tabs protruding from the bottom channel portion.

17. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 16, wherein the slots are formed in the struts and receive the tabs protruding from the bottom channel portion.

18. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 12, further comprising a connection system for interconnecting the tabs and slots to set the channels in place in the struts.

19. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 12, further comprising a threshold located at a bottom of the enclosure near the flooring system.

20. The enclosed emergency safety shower of claim 12, further comprising drainage openings formed in the struts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views, and in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an emergency safety shower with a floor grate system, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a top view of the floor grate system of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the floor grate system of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of struts of the floor grate system installed within the emergency safety shower;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the strut of the floor grate system;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a front view of the strut of FIG. 5;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a top view of the strut of FIG. 5;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a first side view of the strut of FIG. 5;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the strut of FIG. 5;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a second side view of the strut of FIG. 5;

[0027] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an individual grate of the floor grate system;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a front view of the individual grate of FIG. 11;

[0029] FIG. 13 is a top view of the individual grate of FIG. 11;

[0030] FIG. 14 is a side view of the individual grate of FIG. 11; and

[0031] FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the individual grate of FIG. 11.

[0032] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected, attached, or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description.

[0034] Throughout this description, various terms denoting direction, such as left and right, front and rear, up and down, top and bottom, and the like may be used. The directions are not intended to be limiting but are used to describe relationships of elements with respect to each other in the accompanying drawings. Unless mutually exclusive, it is contemplated that the elements may be reversed, for example, by turning a component around or upside down without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 1, an enclosed emergency safety shower 10 is shown according to an embodiment of the invention. While the shower will include a shower head, or an off/on system, and plumbing, these are not shown in the drawings, or further described herein. The safety shower 10 includes a number of walls 12. In the representative embodiment of the invention, the safety shower 10 includes at least a first side wall 12a, a second side wall 12b, a rear wall 12c, and a front wall 12d. Fewer or more walls 12 are contemplated in varying embodiments of the invention. In turn, a doorway 14 is formed within the front wall 12d to allow access into the interior of the safety shower 10. It is also contemplated that additional doorways 14 may be formed in other walls 12 to provide alternative and/or additional doorways 14 into the safety shower 10.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first and second side walls 12a, 12b are oriented opposite and parallel to each other. Meanwhile, the rear wall 12c extends between the first and second side walls 12a, 12b and is oriented perpendicular thereto. Preferably, the rear wall 12c extends between rear edges 16a, 16b of the respective side walls 12a, 12b. Similarly, the front side wall 12d extends between the first and second side walls 12a, 12b and is oriented perpendicular thereto in order to be parallel with the rear wall 12c. Preferably, the front wall 12d extends between front edges 18a, 18b of the respective side walls 12a, 12b.

[0037] Alternatively, the safety shower 10 could have an opening in place of the front wall 12d completely resulting in the doorway 14. In other embodiments of the invention, the safety shower 10 may include any number of walls oriented with respect to each other to form any shape.

[0038] The safety shower 10 further includes a ceiling 20 enclosing the top of the interior of the safety shower 10. Preferably, the ceiling extends between the walls 12 and top edges thereof. Additionally, the safety shower 10 includes a drain system 22 disposed at a bottom of the safety shower 10. Preferably the drain system 22 extends between the walls 12 and bottom edges thereof.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the doorway 14 includes a threshold 24 disposed above the drain system 22. Further yet, a flooring system 26 is installed within the drain system 22 of the safety shower 10. Preferably, an upper surface 28 of the flooring system 26 is aligned with the threshold 24. By aligning the upper surface 28 of the flooring system 26 with the threshold 24 of the doorway 14 into the safety shower 10, a user is less likely to trip when entering and exiting the safety shower 10.

[0040] Now referring to FIGS. 3-4, total and partial views of the flooring system 26 disposed within the drain system 22 is shown. The flooring system 26 includes a number of struts or rails 30 extending between opposite walls 12 of the safety shower 10 to form a railing system 31. In the representative embodiment of the invention, the flooring system 26 includes at least two struts or rails 30 in the form of a first rail 30a and a second rail 30a. The first, front strut 30a extends between the first side wall 12a and the second side wall 12b at a location adjacent to the front wall 12d and the threshold 24 when entering the safety shower 10. Meanwhile, the second, rear strut 30b extends between the first side wall 12a and the second side wall 12b at a location adjacent the rear wall 12c. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the struts 30 include a bottom portion 36 that rests on the floor 38 of the drain portion 22 of the safety shower 10. In the single drain embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the floor 38 is angled from the walls 12 to a central drain 40 located below the flooring system 26. As a result, the water that passes through the flooring system 26 is able to proceed to the drain 40 of the drain system 22. In other embodiments of the invention, the drain system 22 may include multiple drains at perimeter locations of the drain system 22 alone or in combination with the central drain 40. In turn, the floor 38 of the drain system 22 may be level or inclined in any number of directions to direct fluid toward the one or more drains. The struts or rails 30 will be described in further detail below.

[0041] The flooring system 26 also includes a number of grates 32 extending across and between the struts or rails 30. The grates 32 together from a grate system 34 extending between the side walls 12a, 12b from a first side 42 of the grate system 34 to a second side 44 of the grate system and between the threshold 24 and the rear wall 12c of the safety shower 10 from a front side 46 of the grate system 34 to a rear side 48 of the grate system 34. The grates 32 are individually installed into the railing system 31 to allow for easy user cleaning, maintenance, and replacement of individual grates 32. As shown in FIG. 2, adjacent grates 32 are spaced apart from each other to provide fluid access regions or spaces 50 between adjacent grates 32. As a result, water from the safety shower 10 is able to pass through the grate system 34 of the flooring system 26 and to the drain 40 of the drain system 22. The grates 32 will be described in further detail below.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, when formed in the front wall 12d, the threshold 24 may be oriented perpendicular to a length direction of the grates 32. As mentioned above, the safety shower 10 may include additional doorways 14 in other walls 12, which would result in additional thresholds 24 for those doorways 14. For instance, if the first side wall 12a were to include a doorway 14 and threshold 24, that threshold 24 would be oriented parallel to the length direction of the grates 32. Further yet, it is also contemplated that the rails 30 and grates 32 may be oriented in the opposite direction in another embodiment of the invention. In such an embodiment, the threshold 14 of the front wall 12d may be oriented parallel to the length direction of the grates 32.

[0043] Next, FIGS. 5-10 illustrate the struts or rails 30 according to a representative embodiment of the invention. Each rail 30 includes a previously discussed bottom portion 36 that rests on the floor 38 of the safety shower 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom portion 36 may be oriented at an angle with respective to horizontal. The orientation of the angle is preferably designed to match a slope of the floor 38. Varying embodiments of the rail 30 may include the bottom portion 36 sloped at varying angles to match slopes of varying floors.

[0044] Each rail 30 also includes a support portion 56 that preferably extends along a horizontal plane aligned with the other rails 30. The support portion 56 has a plurality of slots 58 formed therein and associated with locations for the grates 32 of the grate system 34 to be installed and connected to the rails 30. The alignment of slots 58 with elements of the grates 32 will be described in further detail below. The support portion 56 includes an upper support surface 60 upon which the grates 32 are placed. In the representative embodiment of the invention, the support portion 56 and support surface 60 extend along the entire length of the rail 30 in order to provide a support surface for the entire grate system 34.

[0045] The rail 30 further includes a stop portion 62 extending upward from a first edge 64 of the support portion 56. The stop portion 62 is oriented to assist in the alignment of each grate 32 as the grate system 34 is installed in the flooring system 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the stop portion 62 preferably extends upward from the support portion 56 for a distance less than a height of the grates 32. In the representative embodiment of the invention, the stop portion 62 extends along the entire length of the rail 30 in order to provide an alignment surface for the entire grate system 34. While the representative embodiment of the invention illustrates the stop portion 62 as extending vertically from the support portion 56 at the first edge 64 of the support portion 56, varying embodiments of the invention may have the stop portion 62 extending upward from any location on the support portion 56 and at any angle from the support portion 56. In embodiments of the invention using more than two rails 30, some rails 30 may not include a stop portion 62.

[0046] The rail 30 also includes an upright portion 54 extending downward from the support portion 56 at a second edge 66 of the support portion 56 that is opposite the first edge 64 of the support portion 56. While the representative embodiment of the invention illustrates the upright portion 54 as extending vertically from the support portion 56 at the second edge 66 of the support portion 56, varying embodiments of the invention may have the upright portion 54 extending downward from any location on the support portion 56 at any angle from the support portion 56.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 5, 8, and 10, a number of openings 68 are formed in the upright portion 54 of the rail 30. While the openings 68 are shown as being rounded notches formed in the upright portion 54, the openings 68 may be in the form of any shape that provide an opening 68 at and adjacent a bottom edge 52 of the upright portion 54. In turn, the opening 68 is able to allow water on the floor 38 of the safety shower 10 to flow from one side of the rail 30 to another in order to properly flow to the drain 40.

[0048] Next, the rail 30 includes an already discussed bottom portion 36, which may also be referred to as a footing portion or base portion 36. The bottom portion 36 extends laterally from the bottom edge 52 of the upright portion 54 not removed by the openings 68. In the representative embodiment of the invention, the bottom portion 36 is in the form of a number of separate portions each extending from a respective bottom edge 52 of the upright portion 54 disposed between openings 68. It is contemplated that either all or less than all of the respective bottom edges 52 of the upright portion 54 may include a bottom portion 36 extending laterally therefrom. For instance, FIGS. 5-10 illustrate the outer bottom edges 52 of the upright portion 54 to having a bottom portion 36 extending laterally therefrom. As previously discussed, the bottom portion 36 may extend laterally from the bottom edge 52 of the bottom portion 36 at varying angles depending on the slope of the floor 38 of the drain system 22 in which the flooring system 26 is being installed.

[0049] Referring now to FIGS. 11-15, various views of a grate 32 according to a representative embodiment of the invention are shown. Each grate 32 includes a floor surface 70 having a front edge 72, a first side edge 74, a second side edge 76, and a rear edge 78. Preferably, the floor surface 70 of each grate 32 is a smooth surface to facilitate easy cleaning and efficient water shed from the floor surface 70 to the adjacent gaps 50 to avoid slipping by a user when in the safety shower 10. It is also contemplated that the floor surface 70 of each grate 32 may be perforated or textured to provided additional traction for a user.

[0050] The grate 32 includes first and second sidewalls 80, 82 extending downward from the first and second side edges 74, 76, respectively. As such, the grate 32 may also be referred to as a U-shaped channel 32. In turn, the floor surface 70 may also be referred to as a top channel surface 70 of the U-shaped channel 32. Further yet, the first and second sidewalls 80, 82 extend from the top channel surface 70 to a bottom channel portion 84 of the U-shaped channel 32. Preferably, the grate or U-shaped channel 32 is made from stainless steel.

[0051] The grate 32 may include front tabs 86 and rear tabs 88, which are configured to interfit with the previously described slots 58 of the railing system 31. As shown in FIGS. 11-15, the tabs of the first sidewall 80 include a front tab 86a and a rear tab 88a. The front tab 86a extends downward from a bottom edge 90 of the first sidewall 80 at or adjacent a front edge 94 of the first sidewall 80. Similarly, the rear tab 88a extends downward from the bottom edge 90 of the first sidewall 80 at or adjacent a rear edge 96 of the first sidewall 80.

[0052] Meanwhile, the tabs of the second sidewall 82 also include a front tab 86b and a rear tab 88b. The front tab 88b extends downward from a bottom edge 92 of the second sidewall 82 at or adjacent a front edge 98 of the second sidewall 82. Similarly, the rear tab 88b extends downward from the bottom edge 92 of the second sidewall 82 at or adjacent a rear edge 100 of the second sidewall 82.

[0053] Referring back to FIG. 3, the front tabs 86 are configured to interfit with the slots 58 of the first, front rail 30a and the rear tabs 88 are configured to interfit with the slots 58 of the second rear rail 30b in order to individually secure each grate 32 into the railing system 31. The combination of tabs 86, 88 and slots 58 may also be referred to as a collective connection system 102. In varying embodiments of the invention, the connection system 102 may include the tabs formed in the bottom channel portion 84 of the grate (as shown in the figures) or tabs formed in the rail and slots formed in the bottom channel portion 84 of the grate 32. Yet other embodiments may include a connection system 102 including any combination of tabs and slots formed in either of the rails 30 or grates 32.

[0054] Referring again to FIGS. 11-15, the front edge 72 of each grate 32 may include a rounded edge 104. As a result, the rounded edge 104 is disposed adjacent the threshold 24 of the safety shower 10 and provides a rounded surface to prevent injury of a user when stepping into the safety shower 10. Similarly, the rear edge 78 of the grate 32 may include a rounded edge 106. The rounded edge 106 is configured to prevent a rounded surface to prevent injury of a user.

[0055] As previously discussed, preferably the upper surface 28 of the flooring system 26 is aligned with the threshold 24 of the doorway 14 into the safety shower 10 to prevent a user from tripping when entering the safety shower 10. The upper surface 28 of the flooring system 26 is associated with the floor surface 70 of each grate 32. Preferably the distance from the bottom of the flooring system 26 (which is associated with the bottom portions 36 of the rails 30 of the railing system 31 on the floor 38 of the drain system 22) to the upper surface 28 of the flooring system 26 (which is associated with the floor surface 70 of each grate 32) is between 2.5 to 3 inches.

[0056] Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept.

[0057] Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any configuration. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive.

[0058] Further, the individual components discussed above are not limited to any material. That is, each component may independently be made from any material such as, but not limited to, metal, plastic, wood, etc.

[0059] It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.