IP Library Granted Patent US 7,490,371
Granted Patent B2
US 7,490,371 · App. 10/910,733 · Granted Feb 17, 2009

Shower receptor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,490,371
App. No.
10/910,733
Granted
Feb 17, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shower receptor with improved control of moisture and trapped water comprising one or more of the following improvements: the flange is significantly higher above the threshold than prior art receptors; the threshold is disposed higher than the ledge area where the shower wall materials meet the receptor; weep valleys are provided in the corners of the ledge area and where the ledge meets the threshold; the ledge area comprises multiple steps adapted to meet the subwall and finish wall materials wherein the steps are sloped toward the base and the tile step is lower than the subwall step; a raised curb is provided along the outer edge of the horizontal surface of the threshold, the curb adapted to redirect water that leaks out of the door enclosure back into the shower receptor.

Claims (42)

1. A shower receptor comprising:

a base having sidewalls extending upward from each edge of the base;

a threshold having a horizontal surface extending outward from the top edge of at least one of the sidewalls;

a ledge extending outward from the top edges of the remaining sidewalls; and

a vertical flange extending upward from the outer edge of the ledge;

wherein the threshold is disposed higher in elevation than the ledge with respect to the base, and the flange extends higher than the threshold; and

wherein the ledge comprises more than one step, the first step disposed closest to the base and lowest in elevation with respect to the base, and each subsequent step higher in elevation and farther from the base.

2. The shower receptor of claim 1 wherein the ledge comprises at least three steps, and the steps and/or the horizontal surface slope toward the base.

3. The shower receptor of claim 2 wherein the difference in elevation with respect to the base between each adjacent step is at least about one quarter inch.

4. The shower receptor of claim 1 wherein the flange extends above the threshold; the flange extends above the ledge at least about three inches; and the height of the horizontal surface of the threshold above the ledge is in the range of from about two to about five inches.

5. The shower receptor of claim 1 wherein the flange extends higher than the ledge at least about three inches; the flange extends above the threshold more than one inch; and the height of the horizontal surface of the threshold above the ledge is in the range of from about one to about six inches.

6. The shower receptor of claim 1 wherein the flange extends higher than the ledge at least about three inches; the flange extends above the threshold more than one inch; and the height of the horizontal surface of the threshold above the ledge is in the range of from about one to about six inches.

7. The shower receptor of claim 1 further comprising a raised curb on the outer edge of the horizontal surface of the threshold.

8. The shower receptor of claim 1 wherein the ledge further comprises front corners at the intersections of the threshold and the ledge and one or more other corners of the ledge, and valleys are formed diagonally in the other corners of the ledge.

9. The shower receptor of claim 1 wherein the height of the horizontal surface of the threshold above the ledge is in the range of from about one to about six inches.

10. A shower receptor comprising:

a base having sidewalls extending upward from each edge of the base;

a threshold having a horizontal surface extending outward from the top edge of at least one of the sidewalls; and

a ledge extending outward from the top edges of the remaining sidewalls, with a vertical flange extending upward from the outer edge of the ledge, the flange extending higher than the threshold;

wherein the ledge comprises more than one step, the first step disposed closest to the base and lowest in elevation with respect to the base, and each subsequent step higher in elevation and farther from the base.

11. The shower receptor of claim 10 wherein the ledge comprises at least three steps, and each step slopes toward the base.

12. The shower receptor of claim 11 wherein the difference in elevation with respect to the base between adjacent steps is at least about one quarter inch.

13. The shower receptor of claim 10 further comprising a raised curb on the outer edge of the horizontal surface of the threshold.

14. The shower receptor of claim 10 further comprising valleys formed in the corners of the ledge, the valleys sloping toward the base for collecting water from the ledge and directing it into the base.

15. The shower receptor of claim 10 wherein the flange extends in the range of from about one to about six inches above the highest step.

16. The shower receptor of claim 10 wherein the dimensions of the sidewall, base, threshold and ledge are adapted for use as a bathtub.

17. The shower receptor of claim 10 adapted for installation in a corner with two shower walls wherein two adjacent sides have flanges and the other sides have thresholds.

18. The shower receptor of claim 10 installed in a shower stall or in a combination bathtub-shower stall.

19. The shower receptor of claim 10 wherein the flange extends higher than the ledge at least about three inches.

20. The shower receptor of claim 10 wherein the flange extends higher than the ledge at least about three inches, and the flange extends above the threshold more than one inch.

21. A shower receptor comprising:

a base having sidewalls extending upward from each edge of the base;

a threshold having a horizontal surface extending outward from the top edge of at least one of the sidewalls;

a ledge extending outward from the top edges of the remaining sidewalls with a vertical flange extending upward from the outer edge of the ledge, said ledge disposed lower than the threshold with respect to the base; the ledge further comprising front corners at the intersections of the threshold and the ledge and one or more other corners;

valleys formed parallel to the threshold disposed where the ledge meets the threshold, and valleys formed diagonally in the other corners of the ledge, the diagonal and parallel valleys sloping toward the base and adapted for collecting water from the ledge and directing it into the base; and

a raised curb on the outer edge of the horizontal surface of the threshold,

wherein the horizontal surface of the threshold is disposed higher in elevation than the ledge with respect to the base, and the flange extends higher than the threshold; wherein the flange extends higher than the threshold at least about one inch, and the flange extends higher than the ledge at least about three inches; and

wherein the ledge comprises more than one step, the first step disposed closest to the base and lowest in elevation with respect to the base, and each subsequent step higher in elevation and farther from the base.

22. The shower receptor of claim 21 wherein the ledge comprises three steps.

23. A shower receptor as in claim 21 adapted for installation in a corner with two shower walls wherein two adjacent sides have flanges and the other sides have thresholds.

24. A shower receptor as in claim 21 wherein the dimensions of the sidewall, base, threshold and ledge are adapted for use as a bathtub.

25. The shower receptor of claim 21 installed in a shower stall or in a combination bathtub-shower stall.

Assignments (18)
SECURITY AGREEMENT (2L NOTES) Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: AMERICAN BATH GROUP, LLC; AQUATIC CO.; ATMOS PROJECT, LLC; BATH AUTHORITY, LLC; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.; COASTAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; MAAX SPAS INDUSTRIES CORP.; SWAN SURFACES, LLC; PROJECT SOAK, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072261/0051 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jul 8, 2025
From: AMERICAN BATH GROUP, LLC; AQUATIC CO.; ATMOS PROJECT, LLC; BATH AUTHORITY, LLC; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.; COASTAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; FLORESTONE, LLC; MAAX SPAS INDUSTRIES CORP.; MAAX US CORP.; SWAN SURFACES, LLC; THE PRAXIS COMPANIES, LLC; PROJECT SOAK, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071864/0833 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS) Recorded May 13, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS RESIGNING AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 071284/0391 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2020
From: AMERICAN BATH GROUP, LLC; AQUATIC CO.; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.; MAAX SPAS INDUSTRIES CORP.; MAAX US CORP.; SWAN SURFACES, LLC; THE PRAXIS COMPANIES, LLC; FLORESTONE, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 054454/0494 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2020
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AQUATIC CO.; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; THE PRAXIS COMPANIES, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.; MAAX SPAS INDUSTRIES CORP.; MAAX US CORP.; FLORESTONE, LLC; SWAN SURFACES, LLC
Reel/Frame 054448/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2020
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AQUATIC CO.; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; THE PRAXIS COMPANIES, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.; MAAX SPAS INDUSTRIES CORP.; MAAX US CORP.; FLORESTONE, LLC; SWAN SURFACES, LLC
Reel/Frame 054448/0014 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 3, 2016
From: AQUATIC CO.; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.; THE PRAXIS COMPANIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 040207/0915 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 3, 2016
From: AQUATIC CO.; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.; THE PRAXIS COMPANIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 040206/0367 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: BNP PARIBAS
To: AQUATIC CO.; BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; THE PRAXIS COMPANIES, LLC; CLARION BATHWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 039915/0138 →
GRANT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2015
From: AQUATIC CO.
To: BNP PARIBAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035901/0379 →
TERMINATION OF INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 033501/0001 Recorded Jun 13, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AQUATIC CO.
Reel/Frame 035908/0586 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 8, 2014
From: AQUATIC CO.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 033501/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 22, 2014
From: LASCO BATHWARE, INC.
To: AQUATIC CO.
Reel/Frame 033379/0747 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 10, 2014
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: AQUATIC CO.; THE GATES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 033289/0254 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 10, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AQUATIC CO.; THE GATES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 033290/0631 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2010
From: AIR SYSTEM COMPONENTS, INC.; AQUATIC CO.; DEXTER AXLE COMPANY; EASTERN SHEET METAL, INC.; EPICOR INDUSTRIES, INC.; THE GATES CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC.; HART & COOLEY, INC.; RUSKIN COMPANY; SCHRADER-BRIDGEPORT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; SCHRADER ELECTRONICS, INC.; SELKIRK CORPORATION; TOMKINS INDUSTRIES, INC.; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
To: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025560/0057 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 29, 2010
From: AIR SYSTEM COMPONENTS, INC.; AQUATIC CO.; DEXTER AXLE COMPANY; EASTERN SHEET METAL, INC.; EPICOR INDUSTRIES, INC.; THE GATES CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC.; HART & COOLEY, INC.; RUSKIN COMPANY; SCHRADER-BRIDGEPORT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; SCHRADER ELECTRONICS, INC.; SELKIRK CORPORATION; TOMKINS INDUSTRIES, INC.; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
To: CITICORP USA, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025549/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2004
From: TORRES, RAYMOND C.
To: LASCO BATHWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 015900/0142 →