Prefabricated shower floor liner for use with solid stone shower floor and method of construction

Abstract

A shower installation in which a monolithic stone slab serves as the floor, or pan, of the installation. A liner of plastic material seated beneath the stone slab, the liner in the stone slab each having an aperture therein for receipt of a drain assembly. The liner is formed with an array of channels in the upper surface thereof, all of which slope toward the drain opening in order that fugitive moisture and condensation accumulated beneath the stone slab be directed away from the stone slab and into the drain.

1 . In a shower facility, a monolithic stone floor, said stone floor having a drain opening therein;
 a liner; said liner having an upper flat surface, a drain opening therein, an array of channels formed in said liner, said groves sloping toward said drain opening;   a subfloor, said subfloor having a surface adapted to receive said liner in mating engagement;   and a drain assembly disposed in said drain openings such that fugitive moisture and condensation accumulated below said stone slab is directed to said drain through said channels.   
   
   
       2 . The shower facility of  claim 1 , wherein said drain opening is centrally located and both said drain openings being aligned. 
   
   
       3 . The shower facility of  claim 1 , wherein said stone floor slopes towards said drain opening. 
   
   
       4 . The shower facility of  claim 1 , wherein said channels in said liner slope towards said drain opening in order that fugitive moisture is moved to said drain assembly and there disposed. 
   
   
       5 . The shower facility of  claim 1 , wherein said channels define ribs disposed there between. 
   
   
       6 . The shower facility of  claim 1 , wherein said channels are divided into groupings, said channels in each grouping sloping towards said drain opening. 
   
   
       7 . The shower facility of  claim 5 , said ribs having a top edge and all of said top edges of said ribs defining a level surface. 
   
   
       8 . The shower facility of  claim 7 , wherein said monolithic stone floor rests on said level surface. 
   
   
       9 . The method of installing a stone slab as a floor in a shower comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a monolithic stone slab having an opening therein, a series of channels sloping towards said opening;   b. providing a liner, said liner formed with an opening and an array of channels formed in the upper surface of said liner, said channels sloping towards said opening;   c. forming a bed of initially softened material for receipt of said liner;   d. pressing said liner into said softened material, leveling said liner, and allowing said bed to cure and harden with said liner in place;   e. affixing said stone slab on the upper surface of said liner such that the openings in each are aligned; and,   f. installing a drain in said openings to receive fugitive moisture and condensation accumulated beneath said slab.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said liner is formed of a plastic material. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said channels in said liner being in groupings. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said channels defining ribs there between, said ribs having upper edges, said upper edges together defining a flat surface.