U.S. patent application number 11/721517 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-07 for floor drainage.
Invention is credited to Robert Bruce Grave, matthew Jason Toms.
Application Number | 20100000169 11/721517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34073566 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100000169 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grave; Robert Bruce ; et
al. |
January 7, 2010 |
FLOOR DRAINAGE
Abstract
Formwork creates a grid for receiving a filler material which
defines a floor or floor base with a water drainage outlet. The
formwork comprises a plurality of first wall members (4, 12)
extending from an outlet zone (6) or channel (16). A plurality of
second wall members (10, 14) extend between the first wall members
to define the grid, with cells formed between the first and second
members. Each first wall member (4, 12) has a progressively
increasing height to define a downward slope for directing water
towards the outlet zone (6) or channel (16), and the height of the
second wall members (10, 14) will match that of the first wall
members at junctions therebetween.
Inventors: |
Grave; Robert Bruce;
(Somerset, GB) ; Toms; matthew Jason; (Somerset,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCANDREWS HELD & MALLOY, LTD
500 WEST MADISON STREET, SUITE 3400
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
34073566 |
Appl. No.: |
11/721517 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB05/04783 |
371 Date: |
August 31, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/302.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 3/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/302.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/70 20060101
E04B001/70 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 2004 |
GB |
0427175.5 |
Claims
1. Formwork for laying on a surface as the basis for a floor with a
water drainage outlet, which formwork comprises a plurality of
first wall members extending from an outlet zone, each first wall
member having a progressively increasing height to define a
downward slope for directing water towards the outlet zone: and a
plurality of second wall members extending between the first
members to define a grid for receiving a filler material in cells
formed between the first and second members.
2. Formwork according to claim 1 wherein the first wall members and
the second wall members comprise substantially planar strips.
3. Formwork according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first
wall members and the second wall members comprise strips of
three-dimensional cross-section.
4. Formwork according to claim 3 wherein the strips have an
inverted V-shaped cross-section.
5. Formwork according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of discrete
units each comprising first and second wall members defining at
least one cell, and a mechanism for connecting the units to form a
continuous said grid.
6. Formwork according to claim 5 wherein each unit defines a
plurality of cells.
7. Formwork according to claim 5 including a core section
comprising at least one unit defining the outlet zone and a
plurality of additional units for connecting to the periphery
thereof.
8. Formwork according to claim 7 wherein the core section itself
comprises a plurality of units defining the outlet zone.
9. Formwork according to claim 7 wherein the core section and each
additional unit has straight edges.
10. Formwork according to claim 9 wherein the core section is
square or rectangular.
11. Formwork according to claim 10 wherein the core section
comprises four isosceles triangular units of each of which unit the
base of the triangle forms a straight edge of the core section and
the other sides converge towards the outlet zone.
12. Formwork according to claim 9 including at least one additional
unit for extending around two adjacent edges.
13. Formwork for laying on a surface as the basis for a floor with
a water drainage outlet, which formwork comprises a plurality of
first wall members extending from an outlet zone, each first wall
member having a progressively increasing height to define a
downward slop for directing water towards the outlet zone: and a
plurality of second wall members extending between the first
members to define a grid for receiving a filler material in cells
formed between the first and second members, wherein the grid
defines a plurality of inclined planar floor areas for directing
water to the outlet zone.
14. Formwork for laying on a surface as the basis for a floor with
a water drainage outlet, which formwork comprises a plurality of
first wall members extending from an outlet zone, each first wall
member having a progressively increasing height to define a
downward slop for directing water towards the outlet zone: and a
plurality of second wall members extending between the first
members to define a grid for receiving a filler material in cells
formed between the first and second members, wherein the grid
defines a substantially continuous curved surface around the outlet
zone.
15. Formwork according to claim 1 wherein the first and second wall
members are substantially upright.
16. Formwork according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the
second wall members are curved.
17. Formwork according to claim 16 wherein at least some of the
second wall members form a circle.
18. Formwork according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first
and second wall members is formed in metal or plastics
material.
19. A floor comprising formwork having a plurality of first wall
members extending from an outlet zone, each first wall member
having a progressively increasing height to define a downward slope
for directing water towards the outlet zone: and a plurality of
second wall members extending between the first members to define a
grid with filler material in cells formed between the first and
second members.
20. A floor according to claim 19 with a covering thereon
comprising one of tiles, a plastics material and a tanking
membrane.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to floor drainage, and particularly
to formwork for laying on a horizontal surface as the basis for a
floor with a water drainage outlet. Such floors are useful in
so-called wet rooms where there is a substantially smooth
transition from the main floor to an area where a shower is
located. The invention does though, have other applications, and
can be used generally where floor drainage is required.
[0002] Wet rooms of the kind referred to above have become
increasingly popular because they avoid disadvantages associated
with conventional shower trays. By making a shower area part of the
room, the room can seem larger and the effect can be aesthetically
pleasing. Particularly, with no rim or edge having to be stepped
over to enter the shower area, it becomes less difficult to access,
and can be used by individuals in wheelchairs.
[0003] The present invention is directed at formwork which creates
a grid for receiving a filler material which defines a floor or
floor base. Formwork according to the invention is for laying on a
horizontal surface as the basis for a floor with a water drainage
outlet. The formwork comprises a plurality of first wall members
extending from an outlet zone. A plurality of second wall members
extend between the first wall members to define a grid with cells
formed between the first and second members. Each first wall member
has a progressively increasing height to define a downward slope
for directing water towards the outlet zone, and the height of the
second wall members will match that of the first wall members at
junctions therebetween. Either or both of the first and second wall
members may comprise substantially planar strips. However, it is
preferred that either or both of the first and second wall members
comprise strips with a three dimensional cross-section, such as a
triangular cross-section to provide increased rigidity. In a
particularly preferred embodiment, the strips have an inverted
V-shaped cross-section with the apex located uppermost to define an
edge at the upper surface of the grid.
[0004] Formwork according to the invention can be assembled as a
single unit. However, it is preferred to provide it in the form of
a plurality of discrete units, each unit comprising first and
second wall members defining at least one cell. The units would be
adapted to couple together with a suitable mechanism to form a
continuous grid. This enables the formwork to be provided as a set
of modules, enabling the formwork to be assembled on site, and
adapted as appropriate to the surface on which it is to be
installed. By providing the formwork as a set of modules, its
delivery to a chosen site can be facilitated, particularly when
that site does not have easy access.
[0005] Modular formwork according to the invention will normally be
based on a core section comprising at least one unit defining the
outlet zone, and a plurality of additional units for connecting to
the periphery thereof. The core section itself will normally
comprise a plurality of units, and the edges of the units in such
modular formwork will usually be straight to facilitate their
assembly and connection. Typically, the core section is square or
rectangular, and can conveniently comprise four isosceles
triangular units, of each of which unit the base of the triangle
forms a straight edge of the core section and the other sides
converge towards the outlet zone.
[0006] Formwork according to the invention can define a
substantially continuous curved surface around and sloping inwardly
towards the outlet zone. However, it can also be designed to form a
plurality of inclined planar areas suitably oriented to direct
water to the outlet zone. This design is particularly suited to
modular formwork comprising a plurality of units. It can also
facilitate the casting of a filler material in the cells of the
grid to create the final surface.
[0007] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of
example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 with an arrangement of
additional units;
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates how the core section and additional units
can be connected together to create formwork according to third
embodiment of the invention; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line A-A of FIG.
5.
[0014] The formwork shown in FIG. 1 is a substantially square
plastics moulding in the form of an open network or grid within a
square frame defined by straight walls 2. A plurality of
substantially straight first wall members 4 radiate outwardly from
an outlet zone 6, for water drainage. The wall members 4 define a
plurality of segments around the outlet zone, and these segments
are divided into cells 8 by a series of substantially concentric
circular second wall members 10. At selected junctions 12 between
first and second wall members, provision is made for fixing screws
to secure the formwork in place on a substrate.
[0015] Each first wall member has a height which steadily increases
at sections further from the outlet zone 6. The second wall members
8 are each of constant height, but that height is determined
relative to the distance from the outlet zone 6. In this way, when
placed on a flat horizontal substrate, the upper edges of the first
and second wall members 4,8 define a continuous curved surface
around the outlet zone in the form of a very flat inverted cone.
When the cells defined by the members are filled, a continuous
surface is formed from which water will naturally drain to the
outlet zone.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which
the grid forms substantially square cells between the first and
second wall members 12,14. The overall shape of the formwork is
square, and can be seen to be divided into four triangular
sections. These are defined by diagonal wall members 16. While this
formwork would normally be provided as a single component, the
triangular sections can be provided separately before being brought
together as shown. In this variant, the diagonal wall members 16
will of course be present on only one side of each triangular
section.
[0017] Whereas in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the upper edges
of the first and second wall members defined a continuous slightly
curved surface, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the upper edges of the
wall members 12,14 in each triangular section define a planar
surface inclined towards the outlet zone 6, or towards drain
channels to the outlet zone 6, which are defined by the diagonal
wall members 16. Once again the first wall members 12 will be of
steadily increasing height relative to the distance from the outlet
zone 6, and each individual second wall member 14 will be of
constant height. The diagonal wall members 16 will also be of
varying height, but of course the slope defined by each diagonal
wall member 14 will be different from that defined by the first
wall members 4.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows the formwork of FIG. 3 in conjunction with a
number of discrete separate units 18,20,22 ready for coupling
thereto. FIG. 5 shows the same arrangement of units after they have
been coupled together, which as can be seen, enables the formwork
to define a quite irregular shape. Each separate unit will have its
own first and second wall members having the height and height
variations required to abut smoothly with those in adjacent units
with which they are to be aligned. The result is the creation once
again of four planar surfaces converging towards the outlet zone 6
or respective drainage channels (16). A drainage unit 24 is shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5, at the outlet zone.
[0019] The discrete units 18,20 and 22 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are
connected by means of a simple keying mechanism. Respective edges
of each unit are provided with a slot 26 or key 28 respectively to
hold the units together. Additionally, and as better shown in FIG.
6, an edge of one unit is formed with a slot 30 for receiving the
edge or wall 32 of the adjacent unit to further secure one unit
relative to the other.
[0020] In formwork according to the invention the respective wall
members can comprise simple strips of material; normally plastics
or metal, which can be moulded or fabricated. In preferred
embodiments however, the first or the second wall members have a
little more rigidity. They could be of I- or L-shaped cross-section
but most preferred is an inverted V-shaped cross-section with the
apex of the "V" at the upper edge. Particularly when the formwork
is provided as a number of discrete units, by having this
additional rigidity in either the first wall members or second wall
members or both, the units are more resilient and easier to handle.
An inverted V-section for the wall members also facilitates the
casting of a filler material in the cells, as the cross-section of
each cell is reducing towards its base.
[0021] The inverted V-section of the second wall members 14 is
clearly shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 also illustrates the continuous
incline created by the reducing height of the second wall members
14, and the slope formed by the visible first wall member 12,
towards the drainage unit 24, which is not illustrated or described
in detail. The view shows adjacent units in the background.
[0022] It will be appreciated that discrete units in modular
formwork according to the invention can be combined around a core
section to form a variety of different shapes. It will though, also
be appreciated that formwork according to the invention provided as
a single unit can be made any of a variety of shapes including
square as illustrated in FIG. 1; rectangular, circular, ellipsoidal
or any other polygonal shape.
[0023] When installing a floor using formwork according to the
invention, the formwork is first placed and then secured on the
base substrate, and in such a manner that the lower surface of the
formwork is substantially horizontal. Once it is secured, a filler
material such as a concrete mix is cast in the cells of the
formwork using the usual techniques. Because each cell is
relatively small, the filler material can cure with the required
inclined surface being substantially continuous over and between
adjacent cells. Where the formwork is located on a concrete screed,
the screed outside the perimeter of the formwork is also brought up
to the top of that perimeter to form a smooth transition with the
filler material within the formwork. Once the filler material and
any further screed has hardened, a flooring material can be fitted
over the floor and the formwork to form a substantially continuous
surface. The flooring material can be fitted substantially in the
manner described in British Patent Specification No: 2 361 637.
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