Tub or shower surround kit system and method

Abstract

A tub or shower surround kit, system, and method are disclosed. An example system for constructing a tub surround, shower surround, and wall covering includes a plurality of components including at least one panel, at least one edge component, and at least one interconnecting component. The example system also includes a tongue or lip of a first of the plurality of components configured to fit into a groove of a second of the plurality of components. The example system also includes a tongue or lip of the second of the plurality of components to fit into a groove of the first of the plurality of components. Any number of the plurality of components are connected adjacent to a desired wall geometry to provide an assembled version of the tub surround, shower surround, and wall covering.

1 . A method for constructing a tub surround, shower surround, or wall covering, comprising:
 providing a plurality of components to form a kit including at least edge components, panels, corner-side components, corner components, and at least one interconnection component, the plurality of components selected to fit a desired wall geometry; and   wherein the at least one interconnection component has two lips, two grooves, and two back curves to interlock at least one of the edge components such that lips of the edge components fit into the grooves of the interconnection component while the lips of the interconnection component fit into the grooves of the edge components to join the selected components together; and   wherein erecting the assembly over a wall adjacent the tub or shower forms the tub surround, shower surround, or wall covering.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein another of the at least one interconnection component is connected to at least one of corner-side components, corner components, and panels in various combinations to provide different shapes of the tub surround, shower surround, or wall covering. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one interconnection component is configured as an interlocking panel, wherein the lip of a first panel fits into the groove of a second panel, and the lip of the second panel fits into the groove of the first panel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the components are attached to one another and to the wall by any one or more of adhesives, fasteners, sealants, welds, and solder. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the components are at least one of standard dimensions and custom dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the components are made from any combination of materials selected from metals, plastics, ceramics, composites, laminates, and stone. 
     
     
         7 . A system for constructing a tub surround, shower surround, and wall covering, comprising:
 a plurality of components including at least one panel, at least one edge component, and at least one interconnection component;   a tongue or lip of a first of the plurality of components configured to fit into a groove of a second of the plurality of components; and   a tongue or lip of the second of the plurality of components to fit into a groove of the first of the plurality of components;   wherein the at least one interconnection component has two lips, two grooves, and two back curves to interlock at least one of the edge components such that lips of the edge components fit into the grooves of the interconnection component while the lips of the interconnection component fit into the grooves of the edge components to join the selected components together; and   wherein any number of the plurality of components are connected adjacent a desired wall geometry to provide an assembled version of the tub surround, shower surround, and wall covering.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein another of the at least one interconnection component is connected to at least one of corner-side components, corner components, and panels in various combinations to provide different shapes of the tub surround, shower surround, or wall covering. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one interconnection component is configured as an interlocking panel, wherein the lip of a first panel fits into the groove of a second panel, and the lip of the second panel fits into the groove of the first panel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of components are attached to one another and/or to the wall by any of adhesives, fasteners, sealants, welds, or solder. 
     
     
         11 . A kit for constructing tub surrounds, shower surrounds, and wall coverings, comprising:
 two or more components selected from panels, edges, corner sides, corners;   at least one interconnection component having two lips, two grooves, and two back curves to interlock at least one of the edge components such that lips of the edge components fit into the grooves of the interconnection component while the lips of the interconnection component fit into the grooves of the edge components to join the selected components together;   wherein each of the two or more components has at least one lip or tongue and at least one groove;   wherein the lip or tongue of a first of the two or more components fits into the groove of a second of the two or more components, while the lip or tongue of the second of the two or more components fits into the groove of the first of the two or more components, causing the two components to interlock, and,   wherein any number of the two or more components are connected by lips, tongues, and grooves to fit a desired wall geometry.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein another of the at least one interconnection component is connected to at least one of corner-side components, corner components, and panels in various combinations to provide different shapes of the tub surround, shower surround, or wall covering. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one interconnection component is configured as an interlocking panel, wherein the lip of a first panel fits into the groove of a second panel, and the lip of the second panel fits into the groove of the first panel. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein some of the two or more components are of standard sizes and some of the two or more components are custom sizes. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the components are made from any combination of materials selected from metals, plastics, ceramics, composites, laminates, and stone. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first tongue;   a first groove;   a second tongue;   a second groove;   wherein the first tongue fits into the second groove, and the second tongue fits into the first groove, to join two components.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 additional components, each of which provides either at least one tongue that connects to a groove of another component, or at least one groove that connects to the lip of another component.   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels;   a plurality of edges, corner sides, corners, and interconnections;   wherein each of the panels, edges, corner sides, corners, and interconnects are attachable to another of the panels, edges, corner sides, corners, or interconnects by a lip-and-groove joint.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising fasteners that fit through holes in the panels, edges, corner sides, corners, and interconnects to secure the lip-and-groove joints. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the components include panels, edges, corner sides, corners, and interconnects that are hooked to one another by fitting lips in each component into corresponding grooves in a neighboring component.