Shower pan and method of fabricating same

Abstract

A shower pan is provided. The shower pan includes a body having a perimeter, a central portion internal with respect to the perimeter, a top surface, and an aperture defined by the body in the central portion operable to allow a liquid to flow therethrough, the body comprising a slope to direct a liquid to the aperture, wherein the body defines a groove along a portion of the perimeter, The groove is operable to receive a wall base substrate of a shower to engage the groove in a waterproof manner. The top surface comprises a slip resistant texture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shower pan, comprising:
 a body comprising a perimeter, a central portion internal with respect to the perimeter, a top surface, and an aperture defined by the body in the central portion operable to allow a liquid to flow therethrough, the body comprising a slope to direct a liquid to the aperture,   wherein the body defines a groove along a portion of the perimeter, the groove operable to receive a wall base substrate of a shower to engage the groove in a waterproof manner,   wherein the top surface comprises a slip resistant texture.   
     
     
         2 . The shower pan according to  claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a first surface and a second surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to the first surface, wherein the top surface extends from and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first surface, and wherein the perimeter of the body has a third surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to the second surface. 
     
     
         3 . The shower pan according to  claim 2 , wherein the shower pan is configured to receive at least one adhesive applied to the first surface, the second surface, and a portion of the top surface extending from the first surface, and operable to allow the wall base substrate of the shower to engage with the first surface and the second surface in the waterproof manner, and allow a liner of the shower to engage with the top surface of the body and the wall base substrate in the waterproof manner. 
     
     
         4 . The shower pan according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface comprises a wet dynamic coefficient of friction of 0.4 or greater. 
     
     
         5 . The shower pan according to  claim 1 , wherein the slope comprises an angle with respect to a horizontal plane, and wherein the top surface further has a minimum pendulum test value of 36 or greater. 
     
     
         6 . The shower pan according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises at least one additively formed element. 
     
     
         7 . The shower pan according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises at least one of quartz and rock. 
     
     
         8 . A method of fabricating a customized shower pan, comprising the steps of:
 providing measurements to an apparatus, the measurements comprising at least one of body dimensions and a drain position in the body;
 manufacturing an aperture in the body for allowing a liquid to flow therethrough; 
 manufacturing a slope on the body with the apparatus such that the slope is configured to direct a liquid to the aperture; and 
 applying a slip-resistant texture to a surface of the body. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising manufacturing a groove along at least a portion of a perimeter of the body in order to allow a wall base substrate of a shower to engage with the groove in a waterproof manner, and such that a liner of the shower engages with both a top surface of the body and the wall base substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the groove is defined by a first surface and a second surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to the first surface, and wherein the top surface extends from and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising defining the perimeter of the body with a third surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to the second surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising applying an adhesive to the first surface, the second surface, and the portion of the top surface extending from the first surface in order to both allow the wall base substrate of the shower to engage with the groove in the waterproof manner, and allow the liner of the shower to engage with the top surface of the body and the wall base substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising coupling a curb member to the body along a portion of the perimeter. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises an additive manufacturing apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises at least one of quartz and rock. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus comprises a computer numerical control (CNC) apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein manufacturing the slope on the body comprising fabricating the slope with an abrasive wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising applying the slip-resistant texture to the body with a brush of the apparatus by rotating the brush and engaging the body with the brush while the brush is rotating. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the slip-resistant texture comprises a wet dynamic coefficient of friction of 0.4 or greater. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the slip-resistant texture comprises a finish comprising a minimum pendulum test value of 36 or greater.