Molded wall unit

Abstract

A bathroom wall unit includes a molded wall panel formed of a polymer and defining a recessed pocket. A flexible substrate supporting mosaic tiles is illustratively coupled to a rear wall of the recessed pocket. Surface treatment is illustratively provided within linear indentations in the wall panel to simulate grout lines. A connecting bracket illustratively includes first and second pairs of arms supporting seals and defining first and second recesses for receiving mounting flanges of a pair of the wall panels.

1 . A bathroom wall unit comprising:
 a wall panel including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge and a lower edge, the front surface and the rear surface extending between the first and second side edges and extending between the upper and lower edges;   a recessed pocket formed in the wall panel, the recessed pocket having a rear wall, an upper wall and a lower wall; and   a mounting recess formed within the rear wall of the recessed pocket, the mounting recess configured to receive at least one fastener for securing the wall panel to a support wall.   
     
     
         2 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel is formed from a polymer received within a mold defined by a negative impression of a ceramic tile assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel further includes a plurality of linear indentations, and a plurality of raised polygonal portions defined between the linear indentations. 
     
     
         4 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mosaic tiles received within the recessed pocket forward of the mounting recess. 
     
     
         5 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a flexible substrate supporting the mosaic tiles and coupled to the rear wall of the recessed pocket; and   an adhesive securing the flexible substrate to the rear wall of the recessed pocket.   
     
     
         6 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a mounting screw including a head recessed within the mounting recess. 
     
     
         7 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 4 , wherein the mounting recess extends in both horizontal and vertical directions. 
     
     
         8 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 7 , wherein the mounting recess extends in a zigzag pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 1 , wherein the wall panel is thermoformed from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     
     
         10 . A bathroom wall unit comprising:
 a first wall panel including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first mounting flange supported by the first side edge, and a second mounting flange supported by the second side edge;   a first recessed pocket formed in the first wall panel, the first recessed pocket having a rear wall, an upper wall and a lower wall;   a first mounting recess formed within the rear wall of the first recessed pocket, the first mounting recess configured to receive at least one fastener for securing the first wall panel to a support wall;   a second wall panel including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge, a lower edge, a first mounting flange supported by the first side edge, and a second mounting flange supported by the second side edge; and   a connecting bracket including a body formed of a first material and including a first pair of arms having a first inner arm and a first outer arm defining a first recess, and a second pair of arms having a second inner arm and a second outer arm defining a second recess, the second mounting flange of the first wall panel received within the first recess, and the first mounting flange of the second wall panel received within the second recess.   
     
     
         11 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a first seal supported by one of the first inner arm and the first outer arm, and a second seal supported by one of the second inner arm and the second outer arm, the first seal and the second seal formed of a second material softer than the first material. 
     
     
         12 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , wherein the second mounting flange of the first wall panel is recessed from the front surface of the first wall panel, and the first mounting flange of the second wall panel is recessed from the front surface of the second wall panel. 
     
     
         13 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , wherein the body of the connecting bracket includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings to receive fasteners for securing the connecting bracket to a wall. 
     
     
         14 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of mosaic tiles received within the recessed pocket. 
     
     
         15 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a flexible substrate supporting the mosaic tiles and coupled to the rear wall of the recessed pocket; and   an adhesive securing the flexible substrate to the rear wall of the recessed pocket.   
     
     
         16 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a mounting screw including a head recessed within the mounting recess. 
     
     
         17 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting recess extends in both horizontal and vertical directions. 
     
     
         18 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting recess extends in a zigzag pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The bathroom wall unit of  claim 10 , wherein the first wall panel further includes a plurality of horizontal linear indentations, a plurality of vertical linear indentations, and a plurality of raised rectangular portions defined between the linear indentations. 
     
     
         20 . A bathroom wall unit comprising:
 a wall panel including a front surface, a rear surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge and a lower edge, the front surface and the rear surface extending between the first and second side edges and extending between the upper and lower edges;   a recessed pocket formed in the wall panel, the recessed pocket having a rear wall, an upper wall and a lower wall;   a mounting recess formed within the rear wall of the recessed pocket, the mounting recess configured to receive at least one fastener for securing the wall panel to a support wall;   a plurality of mosaic tiles received within the recessed pocket;   a flexible substrate supporting the mosaic tiles and coupled to the rear wall of the recessed pocket; and   an adhesive securing the flexible substrate to the rear wall of the recessed pocket;   wherein the at least one fastener comprises a mounting screw including a head recessed within the mounting groove.