Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-27
2001-10-16
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Miscellaneous
C004S580000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301726
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to improvements in the installation of a bathtub, the improvements, more particularly, contributing to obviating workperson-caused chipping or other damage to the ceramic bathtub surface during the installation.
In the building of a new house, for example, it is standard practice to install the bathtub at approximately the time of completion of the rough framing and flooring and prior to the installation of the finished wall and floor surfaces. This permits the tub to be “built-in” to the wall. While such a procedure is highly desirable from an aesthetic point of view, it is undesirable from certain other standpoints, in view of the fact that these finishing operations involve the use of plaster, lath, paint, trim, tile, among other materials, by plasterers, carpenters and other workmen.
When working within a confined area such as would be the case in most bathrooms, it is impossible for the workmen to accomplish their jobs without dropping bits of plaster or dripping paint. In addition, tools and other materials used by the workmen are frequently dropped, sometimes landing with great force. Further, it is necessary for workmen to actually step into the bathtub in order to properly position themselves to perform certain parts of the finishing operation. Consequently, the highly polished vitreous surface of the bathtub is exposed to damage during the whole period of time following installation until the finishing operation has been completed. This interval of time is usually considerable with the result that the bathtub, being a reservoir, collects an accumulation of material of this nature that is extremely difficult to remove prior to actual use thereof. Additionally, during this time interval, there is a great likelihood that the finished surface of the fixture will become cracked or chipped due to the falling tools.
In the prior art, the efforts made to overcome these difficulties involve the use of heavier type paper, preformed in two or more pieces, and fitted to the configuration of the bathtub and supposedly capable of being removed for use on another job. These pieces are usually held together by adhesive tape but in some cases one such piece is secured to the rough flooring, where it remains after the finishing operation.
While these devices of the prior art afford some additional protection against falling objects and since parts are joined, it is highly likely that separation and tears will occur with the result that blemishes or cracks will appear on the surface of the bathtub and still necessitate the use of a “clean-up” crew following the finishing operation. Further, these tears and separations minimize the possibility of reuse of all or some of the pieces, involving an additional cost in replacing the same.
Broadly, it is an object to provide a method of installing the bathtub overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art.
More particularly, it is an object to advantageously use the Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) structural features of the bathtub to drape a protective cover over the bathtub for all but a short duration of the installation process, which significantly contributes to obviating any mishap occurring to the bathtub, all as will be better understood as the description proceeds.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1861495 (1932-06-01), Gould
patent: 2853714 (1958-09-01), Darmstadt
patent: 3024471 (1962-03-01), Anderson
patent: 3460167 (1969-08-01), Benjamin
Myron Amer P.C.
Phillips Charles E.
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