Herman Miller, Inc.

Thomas J Misage

Gianfranco D Zaccai

Timothy C Dearborn

Arthur S Rousmaniere

Lynn W Noble

Andrew Ziegler

A rail system is used for supporting a plurality of upper and lower modular wall panels adjacent a plurality of spaced apart studs. In one aspect of the invention, the rail system includes an upper rail mounted horizontally to the studs adjacent a ceiling, a lower rail mounted horizontally to the studs adjacent an abutting surface such as a floor, bathtub, or shower pan, and a middle rail mounted horizontally to the studs between the lower and upper rails. Each rail is mountable to the studs regardless of the distance therebetween. The upper rail is adapted to receive an upper portion of the upper wall panels, the lower rail is adapted to receive a lower portion of the lower wall panels, and the middle rail is adapted to receive the upper and lower panels. In another aspect of the invention, an elongated bar is spaced apart from the middle rail and adapted to be mounted longitudinally thereto. In yet another aspect of the invention, a seating assembly is supported by the bar and moveable to a desired location in a shower stall. The seating assembly includes a seat and a backrest having a channel formed in an upper portion thereof which is substantially the same shape as the bar such that said upper portion of the backrest slidably fits over the bar.

Rail system

Rail

A barrier-free drainage apparatus includes a trough positioned adjacent the front edge of a platform. The trough has a bottom wall which is positioned below the front edge of the platform, and at least one outlet opening in fluid flow communication with a drain pipe. A grate is positioned inside the trough and has an upper, generally horizontal portion with a plurality of apertures therethrough. The upper portion is supported such each that said upper portion is spaced apart from the trough bottom wall in a generally horizontal position and a top surface of the upper portion is substantially the same height as the front edge of the platform. Another aspect of the invention is the configuration of the outlet openings. A plurality of spaced apart, elongated insert receptacles depend from the bottom wall. The insert receptacles have side wall means and a horizontal base which define a cavity, and each base has two spaced apart outlet openings therein adjacent opposing ends of the base. Elongated inserts have a hole adjacent one end thereof and are adapted to fit into the insert receptacles. A top surface of each insert slopes downward toward the hole. When assembling the drainage apparatus, the inserts are placed in the insert receptacles so that the insert hole is in alignment with one of the receptacle base outlet openings.

Barrier-free drainage apparatus

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Thomas J Misage