Integrated bonding flange support disk for prefabricated shower tray

1. A combination for plumbing fixtures comprising: a substantially planar shower tray bonding element that defines a drain opening; said planar bonding element including a plurality of openings outside of said defined drain opening for allowing mortar to penetrate said bonding element; and a prefabricated shower tray surrounding said planar bonding element at the perimeter of said bonding element.

2. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 1 wherein: said shower tray bonding element is a circular disk; and said shower tray defines a circular opening corresponding to the circumference of said disk.

3. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 1 wherein said planar bonding element includes an interior rim that defines said drain opening.

4. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 1 wherein said planar bonding element comprises a plurality of raised portions for fixing the position of additional structural elements on said bonding element.

5. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 4 further comprising a drain bonding flange fixture resting in said bonding element at a position defined by said raised portions.

6. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 5 further comprising clock marks on said raised portions for orienting said disk in a desired position.

7. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said planar tray bonding element is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, PTFE, polyester, polycarbonate, polyurethane and acrylolnitrile butadiene styrene.

8. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 1 wherein said openings include slotted openings.

9. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 8 wherein said slotted openings include a plurality of arc shaped slots and a plurality of rectangular slots.

10. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 1 wherein said prefabricated shower tray comprises a foam.

11. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 10 wherein said foam comprises a polymer selected from polystyrene and polyurethane.

12. A combination according to claim 11 wherein said foam comprises expanded polystyrene foam.

13. A combination for plumbing fixtures comprising: a substantially planar and substantially circular shower tray disk bonding element that defines a drain opening; said shower tray disk including a plurality of slotted openings outside of said defined drain opening for allowing thin set mortar to penetrate said shower tray disk; and a prefabricated foam shower tray surrounding said shower tray disk at the perimeter of said shower tray disk and that defines a circular opening corresponding to the circumference of said disk.

14. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 13 further comprising: an interior rim on said shower tray disk that defines said drain opening; a plurality of raised portions on said shower tray disk for fixing the position of additional structural elements on said disk; clock marks on said raised portions for orienting said disk in a desired position; and wherein said slotted openings include a plurality of arc shaped slots and a plurality of rectangular slots.

15. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 14 further comprising a drain bonding flange fixture resting in said shower tray disk at a position defined by said raised portions.

16. A combination for plumbing fixtures according to claim 13 wherein said prefabricated foam shower tray comprises expanded polystyrene foam.

17. A combination according to claim 13 wherein said substantially planar and substantially circular shower tray disk is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, PTFE, polyester, polycarbonate, polyurethane and acrylolnitrile butadiene styrene.

18. A combination for plumbing fixtures comprising: a substantially planar and substantially circular shower tray disk bonding element with an interior rim that defines a drain opening; said shower tray disk including a plurality of slotted openings outside of said defined drain opening for allowing thin set mortar to penetrate said shower tray disk; said slotted openings including a plurality of arc shaped slots and a plurality of rectangular slots; a prefabricated foam shower tray surrounding said shower tray disk at the perimeter of said shower tray disk and that defines a circular opening corresponding to the circumference of said disk, a plurality of raised portions on said shower tray disk for fixing the position of additional structural elements on said disk; clock marks on said raised portions for orienting said disk in a desired position; and thin set mortar pushed into said slotted openings.

19. A combination according to claim 18 wherein said prefabricated foam shower tray is formed of two portions connected by a joint.

20. A combination according to claim 18 further comprising a drain bonding flange pressed against said thin set mortar.

21. A combination according to claim 18 wherein said thin set mortar comprises water, Portland cement, lime, sand, and a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, latex, and epoxy compositions that increases the adhesion, toughness, flexibility, tensile strength, and chemical resistance of said thin set mortar.

22. A combination according to claim 18 further comprising a drain fixture on said shower tray bonding disk.

23. A substantially planar shower tray bonding element for use in forming a shower installation, the shower tray bonding element defining a drain opening, and being formed with a plurality of openings outside of said defined drain opening for allowing mortar to penetrate said bonding element.