Sill assembly for shower installations

Abstract

A pre-formed threshold sill assembly ( 106 ) for use in tiled shower installations ( 102 ) allows water to be routed to water delivery devices such as body spray jets( 108 ) positioned in columns( 112 ) mounted on a preformed sill( 130 ). Specific connection pieces, in conjunction with a locking cam ( 178 ) and engaging ring arrangement ( 180 ) allow pre-plumbed columns ( 112 ) to be quickly connected to the pre-formed threshold sill assembly ( 106 ). Tiling of the pre-formed threshold sill assembly ( 106 ) can be accomplished according to existing practice.

1 . A preformed shower sill frame comprising: 
 (a) a first sidewall;    (b) a second sidewall; and    (c) a top wall spanning between the first and second sidewalls and defining a plumbing channel.    
   
   
       2 . The preformed show sill frame of  claim 1 , wherein the preformed shower sill frame is formed from a continuous, single piece of material.  
   
   
       3 . The preformed shower sill frame of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture passing through the top wall for permitting a fluid to pass through the top wall.  
   
   
       4 . The preformed shower sill frame of  claim 1 , further including indicia disposed on the preformed shower sill frame for indicating a predetermined location for cutting the preformed shower sill frame to a preselected length.  
   
   
       5 . A shower threshold assembly comprising: 
 (a) a frame attachable to a support surface;    (b) a plumbing channel extending longitudinally through the frame; and    (c) a coupling assembly coupled to the frame for releasably attaching a device to the frame.    
   
   
       6 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling assembly is capable of being lowered in the plumbing channel of the frame during transport.  
   
   
       7 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling assembly includes an indexing member for impeding rotation of a component coupled to the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       8 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling assembly includes a first threaded portion of a first diameter and a second threaded portion of a second smaller diameter, and wherein a fastener is adapted to pass over the second threaded portion to be engaged by the first threaded portion.  
   
   
       9 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , further including a spacer received by the coupling assembly, the spacer having a thickness which is tapered to aid in providing a level surface.  
   
   
       10 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the spacer interacts with an indexing member of the coupling assembly such that a direction of the taper of the spacer is oriented in a selected angular orientation relative to the frame.  
   
   
       11 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the device includes at least one water jet for directing water in a selected direction.  
   
   
       12 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the device is coupled to a column.  
   
   
       13 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling assembly includes a fluid flow passageway for placing the device into fluid communication with a fluid supply source.  
   
   
       14 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , further including a quick connect assembly having a first interlocking member coupled to the frame and a second interlocking member for coupling to the device, wherein the first and second interlocking members are adapted to interlock with one another to couple the device to the frame.  
   
   
       15 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first interlocking member interacts with an indexing member of the coupling assembly so that the first interlocking member is oriented in a predetermined orientation relative to the frame when coupled to the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , further including a cap removably placed over a portion of the coupling assembly, wherein the cap includes indicia marking a selected height above the frame to aid a user in applying a covering to the frame.  
   
   
       17 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , further including a cap removably placed over a portion of the coupling assembly, wherein the cap has an aperture allowing a plug to pass through and connect to the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       18 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the cap includes indicia indicating a selected height above the frame.  
   
   
       19 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , further including indicia disposed on the frame for indicating a predetermined location for cutting the frame to a preselected length.  
   
   
       20 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the frame has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.  
   
   
       21 . The shower threshold assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the device includes at least one water jet for directing water upon a user, wherein the water jet is adapted to direct the water inward into a shower enclosure and away from a door of the shower enclosure.  
   
   
       22 . A kit for forming a tileable shower sill, the kit comprising: 
 (a) a frame having a plumbing channel extending along a longitudinal length of the frame and having a top surface;    (b) a coupling assembly at least partially extendable through the top surface; and    (c) plumbing adapted to be connected to the coupling assembly so as to be positioned within the plumbing channel between the coupling assembly and an end of the frame.    
   
   
       23 . The kit of  claim 22 , further including a first interlocking member coupleable to the coupling assembly for permitting a support member to be coupled to the frame in a quick connect manner.  
   
   
       24 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein the first interlocking member is indexed such that the first interlocking member is oriented in a preselected angular orientation relative to the frame when coupled to the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       25 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the coupling assembly and plumbing are adapted to be disposed within the plumbing channel during transport.  
   
   
       26 . The kit of  claim 22 , further including a cap removably placeable over a portion of the coupling assembly, wherein the cap has an aperture allowing a plug to pass through and connect to the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       27 . The kit of  claim 22 , further including a cap removably placeable over a portion of the coupling assembly, wherein the cap includes indicia marking a selected height above the frame to aid a user in applying a covering to the frame.  
   
   
       28 . The kit of  claim 22 , further including a support member attachable to the frame, a first interlocking member coupled to the frame, and a second interlocking member coupled to the support member, wherein the first interlocking member is couplable to the second interlocking member to couple the support member to the frame.  
   
   
       29 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second interlocking members may be fully coupled to one another through rotation of the first and second interlocking members relative to one another of less than 360 degrees.  
   
   
       30 . The kit of  claim 22 , further including a support member attachable to the frame, a door attachable to the support member, a hinge set for attaching the door to the support member, a spray jet attachable to the support member, and plumbing for connecting the spray jet to the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       31 . The kit of  claim 30 , wherein the support member is internally preplumbed between the spray jet and one end of the support member.  
   
   
       32 . The kit of  claim 31 , wherein the internal plumbing of the hollow support member terminates near a base of the hollow support member and is terminated to allow connection to the coupling assembly in a quick connect manner.  
   
   
       33 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the frame is preplumbed with the plumbing.  
   
   
       34 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the frame includes indicia for indicating a predetermined location for cutting the frame to a preselected length.  
   
   
       35 . A method of forming a shower sill using a preformed sill form having a plumbing channel, the preformed sill form capable of supplying water to components attached to the preformed sill form, the method comprising: 
 (a) passing a protruding portion of a coupling assembly through an aperture of the preformed sill form so that the protruding portion extends outward of the preformed sill form;    (b) securing the coupling assembly to the preformed sill form;    (c) coupling plumbing passing through the plumbing channel of the preformed sill form in fluid communication with the coupling assembly and a fluid source;    (d) attaching the preformed sill form to a supporting surface; and    (e) attaching tiling upon the preformed sill form.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further including placing a removable cap over the protruding portion of the coupling assembly, the removable cap including indicia chosen to identify a selected height above the preformed sill form to aid a user in applying a covering to the preformed sill form.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , further including: 
 (a) extending a shower sill membrane over the preformed sill form;    (b) tiling over the shower sill membrane, and    (c) removing the removable cap.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , further including trimming the preformed sill form to a selected length prior to attaching the preformed sill form to the supporting surface.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , further including locating indicia disposed on the preformed sill form and trimming the preformed sill form at the indicia to the selected length.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , further including coupling a water jet in fluid communication with the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35 , further including placing at least one tapered shim having a tapered thickness over the protruding portion of the coupling assembly to aid in creating a level surface.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the protruding portion is indexed such that the tapered shim is oriented in a selected angular orientation relative to the preformed sill form when the tapered shim is placed over the protruding portion.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 35 , further including coupling an interlocking member to the protruding portion of the coupling assembly.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , further including connecting a support member for supporting a spray nozzle to the preformed sill form by coupling the support member to the interlocking member in a quick connector manner.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the interlocking member is keyed to the coupling assembly such that when the support member is coupled to the interlocking member, the support member is located in a selected angular orientation relative to the preformed sill form.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the support member is pre-plumbed prior to being secured to the preformed sill form.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , further including coupling a panel to the support member.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the spray nozzle is adapted to direct a fluid inward into a shower enclosure and away from the door.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 35 , further including coupling a water jet in fluid communication with the coupling assembly and coupling a support member to the coupling assembly for supporting the water jet.