U.S. patent application number 10/663110 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for subterranean drain device with improved filtration.
Invention is credited to Parker, Alton F..
Application Number | 20040091320 10/663110 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32233099 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040091320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parker, Alton F. |
May 13, 2004 |
Subterranean drain device with improved filtration
Abstract
A water-impervious, non-biodegradable, unitary drainage device
with multi-directional rollup capability. The invention features a
monolithic "sandwich" construction consisting of planar top and
base sheets which are set apart by an array of supports. The
supports are disposed between and integrally joined to the sheets.
Selective and off-set through-cuts, in the top and bottom sheets,
impart to the invention the multi-dimensional rollup capability.
Rods, optionally hollow, are used as connectors to join two or more
of the devices, so that their internal drain channels are in an
efficient, confluent alignment. A filtering adjunct is provided
that assures exclusion of particulate in soil emplacements, yet
obviates the need for aggregate. The fabric used for filtration is
prevented from occluding, by impaction, most drainage apertures; it
being fixed to a permanent stand-off network of supportive
projections from the top or bottom sheets.
Inventors: |
Parker, Alton F.; (Clifton
Park, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FREDRIC T MORELLE
702 HALSTEAD COURT
HUNTSVILLE
AL
35803
|
Family ID: |
32233099 |
Appl. No.: |
10/663110 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10663110 |
Sep 16, 2003 |
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10318644 |
Dec 16, 2002 |
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6648550 |
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10318644 |
Dec 16, 2002 |
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10292298 |
Nov 12, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/45 ;
52/169.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 17/00 20130101;
E04F 2203/08 20130101; E02D 31/02 20130101; E02B 11/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/045 ;
052/169.5 |
International
Class: |
E02D 019/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A filtering adjunct to a sandwich-type, subterranean drainage
device comprising: a network of stand-off elements that are fixedly
disposed on, and project from, a planar surface of the device; and,
a fluid-permeable filter fabric overlain and adhered to tops of the
elements, effecting a filter cover over, and set apart from, said
surface.
2. The adjunct of claim 1, wherein said elements are supportive
projections selected from the class of formations consisting of
tubules, detents, posts, ribs, elongate fins and sinuous/arced
nodules, which are formable by extruding, molding and lay-down
techniques.
3. The adjunct of claim 2, wherein sufficient elements are disposed
proximate a preponderance of apertures in the surface to effect a
fixed fabric tent structure.
4. The adjunct of claim 3, wherein the fabric is adhered to the
surface at selected non-aperture portions to facilitate cutting of
the device.
5. A particulate filtration system for use with a sandwich-type,
surface-aperture and interiorly channeled subterranean drainage
device comprising a geo-textile filter fabric overlying and joined
to tops of a plurality of discrete, fixed projections that emanate
from at least one planar surface of the device, and including
placement of the projections effectively about any aperture in said
surface to effect a stand-off tenting of the fabric over said
aperture.
6. The system of claim 5 further comprising projections of at least
one morphology selected from the class of formations consisting of
tubules, detents, posts, ribs, elongate fins and sinuous/arced
nodules, which are formable by extruding, molding and lay-down
techniques.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the fabric is adhered to the
surface at selected non-aperture portions to facilitate cutting of
the device.
8. In a sandwich-type, channeled drainage device that features at
least one planar, multi-aperture surface, over which a geo-textile
filter fabric is superposed, an improvement characterized by a
multiplicity of stand-off elements disposed on and extending in a
substantially orthogonal projection from said surface into fixed
contacts with said geo-textile filter fabric, thereby effecting a
fabric tenting that is discretely held and spaced away from at
least a preponderance of apertures in said multi-aperture
surface.
9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein the fabric is adhered to the
surface at selected non-aperture portions to facilitate cutting of
the device.
10. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said elements are
projections of varying shapes and sizes so as to present a rigid,
fabric-securing support structure proximate said at least a
preponderance of apertures.
11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said varying shapes of said
elements are selected from the class of forms consisting of
tubules, strings, arcs, ribs and flats.
12. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said varying shapes of said
elements are molded into the device.
13. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said varying shapes of said
elements are extruded with and as an integral part of the
device.
14. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said varying shapes of said
elements are adhesive in character and are applied to the device
after its construction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/318,644, filed on Dec. 16, 2002 by the same
inventor, entitled: Subterranean Drainage Device (in issue), which
was a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/292,298, filed on Nov. 12, 2002 by the same inventor, entitled:
Drainage and Footing Form Device, both for which priority under 35
USC 119(e) and 120 is hereby claimed.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates generally to devices and constructs
used to effect subterranean drainage from building entrenchments,
such as footings, foundations and walls, where seepage and ground
water are a problem, and also under garage and basement floors
where overburden of concrete exacerbates the drainage problem by
frustrating most existing devices or their filtering adjuncts. More
specifically, this invention embodies a filtration improvement to
known planar or "sandwich" devices that are relatively rigid
apparata, with respect to their installation, yet can be rolled up
in one or two directions, as well as in two alternate directions,
while having filter fabric permanently adhered to at least one of
the planar surfaces.
[0005] 2. Discussion of Relevant Art
[0006] It has long been a practice, in the construction industry,
to provide some form of drainage in subterranean structures. Ground
water seepage is an incessant problem in most non-arid regions of
the world and building footings, garage floors (multi-level) and
walls facing surface and sub-surface waters have been most
susceptible to water incursions. Many drainage devices have been
provided, as well as adjuncts thereto, in order to provide adequate
carry-off of these undesired waters; some of the adjuncts provide a
modicum of filtration of the minute particulate that is so common
in most soils. In many cases, the filtering mechanisms must employ
more than one medium of sifting-filtering material because of the
varied aggregate and soil or sand mix in which the construction
takes place. Over the years, the industry has progressed from
sealing walls and such with tar and providing graded stone barriers
between structure and earth, to the use of prefabricated drain
devices combined with overlays of unique geo-textiles that filter
out fine particulate, do not environmentally degrade and obviate,
to some degree, the need for vast amounts of stone interposed the
structure and earth.
[0007] Although for the most part such draining, with concomitant
filtration, is performed using tiles, stone and paper/fabric
overlay (such as in drywell and septic usages), conscientious
builders have transitioned to more effective and reliable forming,
draining and filtering modalities. The instant improvement, in
fact, provides all three modalities in a single device that can be
used both adjacent and beneath concrete structures.
[0008] Two patents are germane to discussion of the present
invention: U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,092, issued Nov. 14, 1995, entitled:
FORM-DRAIN FILTER and U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,741, issued Jun. 3, 1997,
entitled: FORM-DRAIN FILTER CLAMP. To my knowledge, this was the
first combination of a concrete form, that was communicative
(through multiple foramens) with ground waters and was provided a
filter adjunct comprised of geo-textile fabric. The former
reference established the principle that a filter fabric might be
secured to the surface of the form-drain by some adhesion means,
while the latter provided physical mechanisms (various clamps) that
effected the same attachment. Further, the latter shows a
dual-channeled drain. The main limitations in this art follow from
the single purpose nature of the drain device--it is a concrete
form, and no more. Also, fixing the fabric to the discrete units of
the drain may present set-up cutting problems, in the field. Thus,
these devices do not reflect the broad range of usefulness acquired
by the sub-surface drainage devices, with filter, shown in the
instant disclosure and its cross-referenced applications.
[0009] Unfortunately, with the use of a smaller and multi-channel,
more flexible and sophisticated drainage device capable of
far-ranging usage, comes the likelihood of filtering problems that
require a more elegant structure, especially if the filtering
element is to be provided during manufacture. That a filter is
desirable, given the nature of very small aperture drain
mechanisms, is rationalized by the observation that even water can
be impeded, in its passage through the apertures, if the fabric is
pressed into the perforations by concrete or soil overburden.
[0010] As indicative of the art that pre-existed before the above
patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,087, for FOUNDATION WALL PROTECTIVE
SHEET ('087), offers one of the first devices for providing dimples
(posts or detents), as a stand-off mechanism for spacing a filter
fabric from the single plane base of the device, and a physical
folding crease to accommodate bending about a foundation. This
apparatus is quite flexible, but using only a filter fabric as a
second ply, it lacks the overburden capability for which I designed
my planar devices. Further, and of significant detriment, is the
requirement that the filtering medium be applied in situ, when the
devices are installed.
Incorporation by Reference
[0011] Because they show both the present state of the art in
drainage devices having an internal channeled structure, as well as
disclosing filtering adjuncts or various standoff mechanisms, U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,466,092, 5,634,741 and 3,888,087, with the aforesaid
priority applications, are hereby incorporated by reference.
Definitions
[0012] Generally throughout this disclosure, words of description
and claim shall have meanings given by standard English usage;
however, certain words will be used that may have a more stylistic
meaning and are defined as follows:
[0013] construct--herein, generally, an article or a building
structure;
[0014] continual--having intermittent, or periodic, breaks or
discontinuities;
[0015] continuous--having no breaks or discontinuities;
[0016] integral--necessary to complete or in itself complete;
[0017] nodule--a projection of indefinite shape that can be
sinuous, elongate or be, simply, a detent or post;
[0018] off-set--a term describing the state of slices, or slice
patterns, that are parallel to others of the genre, but not
overlapping nor superposed--as opposed to "alternating", which
compels an ordered off-setting of patterns;
[0019] partitio--an projection separating two planar sheets,
incipiently continuous but rendered continual by various slices,
according to the instant teaching;
[0020] permeable--anything, having a character that allows a
substance, such as a fluid, to pass through it;
[0021] posts--as used herein, projected elements, also dimples (in
prior art) or detents;
[0022] rigidity--a physical property of an object wherein the
object substantially resists deflection in a particular dimension
(direction) or plane;
[0023] sandwich--the configuration made by placing one planar
surface over, but set apart from, another;
[0024] slice--a through-cut in the surface(s) of the invention that
passes through an intervening partition, but does not penetrate the
opposite surface or plane;
[0025] stand--off--a spacing element or device;
[0026] tent--a sub-structure of the instant invention that consists
of a fixed draping of the filter fabric over or about a drain
device surface aperture from which the fabric, as well as
particulates, must be excluded;
[0027] tubule--a support element of the filter structure that
defines, generically, any and all support projections having
tube-like morphology, whether hollow; and,
[0028] unitary--having wholeness, as in a single unit or monolith
composed of plural members.
[0029] The above listing is not exhaustive. Certain other stylized
terms, used previously or hereafter, are defined at the time of
their first usage or placed in quotation marks and used with
conventional wording.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The deficiencies or limitations of the earlier art are
overcome by providing an inexpensive, easily applied innovation
allowing continued rollup capability to a state-of the art drain
device that bears a fixed filter fabric over at least one
surface.
[0031] The preferred embodiment of the invention is worked on a
pre-existing drainage device that consists in a generally
water-impervious, semi-rigid plastic "sandwich", having top and
bottom planar members separated by a series of parallel partitions
or a post matrix; either forming an integral and monolithic unit
with the planar members. Foramens are provided on the surface that
is interposed the device and a water source, such as ground or
under-the-floor seepage. Whether the partition, or post,
interstitial paradigm is employed, remains a manufacturer's and
consumer's choice. In either structure, channels are formed for the
communication of waters through a surface of the sandwich and into
a drainage network. The sandwich device is, in itself, capable of
withstanding considerable overburden without collapsing. The
instant invention modifies the sandwich device by placing in it a
series of linear slices ("cuts") that imbue the sandwich with the
desired high degree of flexibility, while retaining essentially all
of its structural strength.
[0032] To prevent soil or concrete overburden from pressing filter
fabric into the apertures or foramens of the drain device, multiple
short projections known as dimple, detent, partition, post or
nodule networks/arrays are employed as stand-off mechanisms. These
stand-offs provide supports, the tops of which are overlain by, and
fixed to, the geo-textile filter fabric.
[0033] The stated goal being achieved, there is acquired not only a
device that has unlimited in-ground use, with high overburden
sustainability, but one retaining a high degree of flexibility that
allows compact rolling, for ease in handling, storage and
shipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] Of the Drawings:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a prior art illustration of a subterranean
drainage article that is improved by the instant invention;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the FIG. 1 device conformed to the
improvements of the invention;
[0037] FIG. 3 is an elevation of the invention, taken at 3-3 of
FIG. 2;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the FIG. 2 device conformed to the
improvements of the alternate embodiment of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 5 is an elevation of the alternate embodiment of the
invention, taken at 5-5 of FIG. 4;
[0040] FIG. 6 is an elevation of the alternate embodiment of the
invention, taken at 6-6 of FIG. 4;
[0041] FIG. 7 is an isometric illustration of the invention
featuring post-type projections;
[0042] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the invention featuring
cross-pattern slices of the alternate embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 9 is a drawing of an article of the invention, as
derived from FIG. 1;
[0044] FIG. 10 is a copy of FIG. 5 showing the filter adjunct in
cross-section;
[0045] FIG. 11 is a copy of FIG. 6 showing the filter adjunct in
cross-section; and
[0046] FIG. 12 is a detail, taken at 12 of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0047] The drainage device of the prior art, shown in FIG. 1, is
employed in construction situations where there is required an
unusual strength to sustain heavy earth, gravel or concrete
overburdens, such as those encountered in basements, parking
garages and earthworks. It is packaged as stacked elements and,
because of its monolithic structure, resists the tendency to roll
or curl that attends a segmented or discontinuous structure. For
the most part, there is shown here a first example or exhibit EX1
of the device, and a second, EX2, joined by an adjunct, a hollow
coupling rod or spline R, devised by the instant inventor to aid in
the alignment of the apparatus. In the prior art, the device is
either affixed to a wall or lain on a prepared earthwork.
Perforations or holes H are provided so that seepage will readily
enter the otherwise liquid-impermeable top plane. For the sake of
clarity, such hole H illustrations will be generally omitted from
subsequent drawings, with but a nominal few being shown in FIGS. 4,
7 and 8. Final to installation, a filter fabric F is overlain the
device(s), to exclude soil particulate or liquid suspensions that
could foul the drain channels D; filtration is improved,
hereinafter.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a partial cut-away plan
view of the preferred embodiment of the invention 10. The
monolithic, non-biodegradable and, preferably, polymeric plastic
structure consists integrally in a top plane 12, a bottom plane 14
and an interstitial parallel partition 16 structure. That the
separating partitions are perpendicular to the separated planes
12,14, as shown in the post-separated model of FIGS. 7 and 8, is
not a hard and fast rule of the instant inventor. Because the
article of this invention is most easily acquired by the process of
extrusion, almost any strength-lending interstitial structure may
be realized; for example, X-shaped supports (not shown) would do
just as well in providing weight-bearing strength and shape
retention. The only attribute required, besides the foregoing, is
that water passages or drain channels D be provided.
[0049] Continuing in FIG. 2, slices 18 are shown in the top plane;
such top plane slices are continued through any intervening
supports and are termed, simply, support slices 20. It must be
noted here that the support slices 20 are confined only to the
support mechanisms 16 and do not enter the bottom plane 14.
Referring to the cut-away portion of FIG. 2, there can be seen a
single instance of a bottom plane slice 19, in off-set relationship
with any top plane slice 18. Like the slicing technique used in the
top plane, bottom plane 14 slices 19, cut through any intervening
support 16, but not the top plane 12. FIG. 3, taken at 3-3 of FIG.
2, exemplifies this feature of the invention. Referring
specifically to FIG. 3, this elevation view, looking into the
partition structure, shows the top plane 12 slices 18 penetrating
the intervening partition 16 as partition slices 20; but, the
slices do not penetrate the opposite plane 14. The off-set
character of the slices in a plane surface cutting through only
intervening supports, but not the opposite plane, forms the nexus
of the invention. It is this unique technique that allows the
invention to be rolled into two dimensions, above or below the
plane shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5-7. It is stressed that the instant
inventor teaches an off-set slicing technique, rather than an
"alternating" one. In this invention, the manufacturer has, for any
reason, the option of employing any slice pattern in an ordered or
non-ordered manner, depending on the desired degree of flexibility
(and thus, roll ability).
[0050] In a cut-away plan view, FIG. 4 depicts an alternate
embodiment of the invention 10 having another off-set slice
pattern, similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3, but in an orthogonal or
cross-hatch array. This embodiment features the second array
composed of parallel top slices 22 and bottom slices 23; here, the
slices 22, 23 are off-set from each other and situated, at closest
proximity, between adjacent partitions. Holes H are show in nominal
quantity, in communication with the channels D. It should be
understood that such perforations may take on a host of shapes or
sizes, often chosen by a consumer, depending on whether it intends
to use fabric or aggregate interposed the device and a seepage
source.
[0051] FIGS. 5 and 6, taken respectively at 5-5 and 6-6 of FIG. 4,
are analogous to FIG. 3, showing, in two views, that the second
slice pattern differs little from the first, but now lends further
bi-directional roll ability in the second, orthogonal dimension of
this "sandwich" plane. Again, the hole(s) H shown is(are) nominal,
and represent plural such apertures in the design.
[0052] The isometric illustration of FIG. 7, along with its
correlative plan view, FIG. 8, show, essentially, the invention 10
previously described, but in an alternate embodiment 11. Here, the
invention takes on the basic aspects of the instant inventor's
earlier work: a bottom sheet 14 of non-biodegradable, plastic type
of material (ABS, PVC, CPVC, polypropylene or similar); truncated
post-type projections 17, from and integrally joined to the base
sheet; and a top, planar structure 12 secured to the tops of the
posts 17. The top structure effected here (and in his earlier work)
is a plurality of strips, but it is most accurately defined as a
continuous planar sheet that is rendered discontinuous by one or
more slices 18, as shown. All other previously disclosed incidents
of the invention are present, including: holes H in one surface (of
the plane/sheet); off-set top and bottom slices 18, 19, running in
one direction; a second set of similarly off-set top and bottom
slices 22, 23, running essentially 90.degree. to slices 18, 19;
drains/channels D; solid or hollow coupling rod R; and, as seen in
FIG. 7, filter fabric F.
[0053] Earlier, it was discussed that the invention readily lent
itself to an extrusion construction process. However, this is not a
limiting factor in its physical realization. As shown in FIGS. 7
and 8, bottom plane 14 projects cylindrical posts 17, which
portray, in the abstract, any variety of fiusto-geometrical
constructs, such as rectilinear, trapezoidal or cylindrical
detents, dimples or projections. [NOTE: As shall be seen
hereinafter, networks of similar projections are useful on the
surface of one or both of the planar surfaces for attaching the
aforementioned filter fabric so as to maintain it in set apart
relationship with the surface, particularly away from, but yet
proximate, any slice, hole or similar aperture in that surface, and
thus, obtain improved filter characteristics.] Such constructs are
formed by extrusion, molding, machining and/or rolling mill
techniques. Subsequently, the top plane(s) 12 is(are) affixed to
the lower plane-support ensemble and final machining takes place to
achieve the character of this instant invention. Since the field is
well informed of the manufacturing techniques employed to make this
invention, further comments of this nature are now deferred. After
the top plane 12 is provided, machining is performed, as necessary,
to acquire the cuts or slices 18, 19 and holes H.
[0054] Addressing now the improved filtration aspects (ibid., above
NOTE), FIGS. 9 through 12 define multiple projection features that
are provided as filter fabric supports, but which are permanently
fixed to the fabric during the manufacturing process. Because the
slices 18, 19, 22, 23 and holes H are vulnerable to fabric
impaction, when the invention is employed as a concrete form, or
must sustain a heavy overburden, a stand-off mechanism for the
fabric and secured fabric proves invaluable. Adhering the fabric
cannot be reasonably done on the job because such an activity is
time consuming and requires coating application skills not readily
available during the footing installation and subterranean phases
of construction.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a subterranean
drainage/form device EX1 of the familiar sandwich construction
consisting, minimally of a top plane 12 over a bottom plane 14,
both planes spaced apart but integrally joined by a plurality of
partitions 16. Upgrading this device to the drain of the instant
invention is done by the previously mentioned machining/milling
techniques; here, such provide slices 18 and holes H. The crux of
this improvement, relating to filtration, lies in the technique of
providing , on one or two of the planar surfaces, an array of
stand-offs or projections that serve as props for is the filter
fabric F tenting (not shown). The clear distinction of fabric
usage, herein, is the adhesion of the fabric to tops of all, or a
preponderance of all, the projections. Further, the projections are
of varied forms, construction and adaptation: the forms including
tubules 100, arced/sinuous tubules 102, dimples/detents 104, split
platforms (button) 106, and ribs/vanes 108; the construction being
integral (with initial extrusion or molding), milling, and high
viscosity lay down; and, adaptation of the projections to the
fabric by pre-formation (as integral construction) and adhesion or
concurrent projection formation (say, by extrusion of adhesive) and
overlay of fabric with adhesion, just prior to completion of
adhesive curing. Most of these methods are in current use in a
number of industries such as that which produces cellular window
treatments, vehicle body repair, and even dentistry. It is not the
purpose of this disclosure to discuss the many manufacturing
techniques available for realizing the invention; hereafter only
the resultant articles are related.
[0056] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the filtration improvements adapted to
the articles of FIGS. 5 and 6, respectfully. In these figures, it
should be understood that the type of projections used, as well as
types and quantities, remain the manufacturer's prerogative. The
straight projections (or nodules), e.g., 100, 108, that parallel
the drain chambers, are readily extruded with the sandwich
production (FIG. 9, EX1). These, as well as the remaining types,
102-106, are applied as or with adhesive or by milling/stamping.
The advantage of using an adhesive for the creation of the
projections is that the fabric can be applied during the curing
process. It would seem that the most economical forms consist in
detents/dimples 100, tubules 104 and ribs/vanes 108 (see phantom
plurality in FIG. 11), in order of expense. The platform/button 106
would be practical if the planes 12, 14 were molded separately. The
filter fabric is shown as a wrap in FIG. 10 and "laminated" in FIG.
11, yet again a manufacturer's choice for acquiring the extensive
tent feature of the invention.
[0057] Finally, the detail 12, of FIG. 11, is presented in FIG. 12
to illustrate that during the adhesive lay down phase, it may be
useful, and therefore preferable, to employ a lamination or contact
of the fabric F directly to certain non-aperture portions of the
drain device (see 110 in leftmost portion). Transverse strips along
the full length and width of the device would facilitate cutting
the sandwich during installation and could also be used to provide
slack in the fabric covering, to aid in rolling the finished
drain.
* * * * *