U.S. patent application number 12/387406 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-04 for reuseable drain installer.
Invention is credited to James A. Pankan.
Application Number | 20100276566 12/387406 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43029687 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100276566 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pankan; James A. |
November 4, 2010 |
Reuseable drain installer
Abstract
A reusable drain installer device for drainage systems, in the
form of at least one generally "U" shaped form having a length
suitable for the length of the drain to be installed, generally
vertical sides and a bottom. A flange is positioned on the top of
the vertical sides extending out from the sides. Removable spreader
members are used to maintain the sides in a vertical orientation
and a removable end cap closes the ends of the forms.
Inventors: |
Pankan; James A.;
(Cambridge, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John S. Munday, Esquire
27170 Lakewood Drive, NW
Isanti
MN
55040
US
|
Family ID: |
43029687 |
Appl. No.: |
12/387406 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
249/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03F 3/046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
249/11 |
International
Class: |
E02D 29/00 20060101
E02D029/00 |
Claims
1. A reusable drain installer device for drainage systems, the
device comprising: at least one generally "U" shaped form having a
length suitable for the length of the drain to be installed,
generally vertical sides and a bottom; a flange formed on the top
of each of the vertical sides extending out from the sides, the
flanges having means for attaching metal parts thereto; at least
one spreader member for maintaining the sides in a vertical
orientation during use and an end cap for the ends of the at least
one form; and a fastener for removably attaching the at least one
spreader and end cap.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of "U" shaped forms
are fastened together using spreader members to achieve a desired
length for the drain to be installed.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is placed in an
excavated site for placement of a drain.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein a drain support member is
removably attached to the vertical side flanges and positioned in
an excavated site for placement of a drain.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein a plurality of vertical rods are
placed in the site proximate the drain support member for
attachment thereto to fixedly locate the drain support member and
drain installer device.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein concrete or the like is poured
proximate the drain installer device and allowed to harden.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the drain installer device is
detached from the drain support member and removed.
8. A reusable drain installer device for drainage systems, the
device comprising: at least one generally "U" shaped form means for
defining a space under which a drain is to be constructed, the form
means having a length suitable for the length of the drain to be
installed, generally vertical sides and a bottom; flange means on
the top of each of the vertical sides extending out from the sides
for having metal parts attached thereon; at least one spreader
means for maintaining the sides in a vertical orientation during
use and end cap means for the ends of the at least one form means;
and fastener means for attaching the at least one spreader means
and end cap means thereto. fastener means for removably attaching
the a
9. The device of claim 8, wherein a plurality of "U" shaped form
means are fastened together using spreader means to achieve a
desired length for the drain to be installed.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is placed in an
excavated site for placement of a drain.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein a drain support member is
removably attached to the vertical side flange means and positioned
in an excavated site for placement of a drain.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein a plurality of vertical rods
are placed in the site proximate the drain support member for
attachment thereto to fixedly locate the drain support member and
drain installer device.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein concrete or the like is poured
proximate the drain installer device and allowed to harden.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the drain installer device is
detached from the drain support member and removed.
15. A method of installing a drain for drainage systems, the method
comprising the steps of: (1) placing a removable drain installer
unit in an excavated drain site, the unit comprising: at least one
generally "U" shaped form having a length suitable for the length
of the drain to be installed, generally vertical sides and a
bottom; a flange on the top of each of the vertical sides extending
out from the sides, the flanges having means for attaching metal
parts thereto; at least one spreader member for maintaining the
sides in a vertical orientation during use and an end cap for the
ends of the at least one form; and a fastener for removably
attaching the at least one spreader and end cap; (2) removably
attaching a drain support member to the unit to position the unit
as an assembly, placing a plurality of vertical rods proximate the
drain support member and the rods to locating the drain installer
device; (3) pouring concrete or the like to form a drain and
allowing it to harden; and (4) removing the drain installer
unit.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of "U" shaped forms
are fastened together using spreader members to achieve a desired
length for the drain to be installed.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the drain support member is an
"L" shaped angle iron with vertical members adapted to receive "U"
bolt means for attaching the drain support member to the vertical
rods.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein a plurality of vertical rods
fixedly locate the drain support member.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the spreader unit and end cap
are metal.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the drain installer device made
from a metal selected from steel and aluminum.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for installing
drains. More particularly, the invention relates to an installer
device that can be used a multiple number of times to install
drains for garages, shops and other interior floor drainage
systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Interior drainage system for garages, shops and
manufacturing facilities require drains that are much larger than a
simple drain in the center of the floor. Plumbing requirements are
now more strict and larger drains of up to fifteen or twenty feet
in length are required or at least recommended to direct water and
other fluids into a waste trap or sewer system.
[0003] In addition, the installation of drains on driveways at or
near the portion of the driveway that joins to a road is necessary
to prevent flooding and permit the flow of rain water and melted
snow to a waste trap or storm sewer. Various materials have been
used, such as metal culverts, ceramic and plastic pipes and poured
concrete forms.
[0004] In commercial garages, shops and other buildings, the cost
of installation and the cost of the device used to form the
passageway for water to flow is becoming expensive, particularly as
building codes add requirements to the permitted designs for these
drains. In residential buildings, builders or owners sometimes use
less than adequate methods to control the flow of water, resulting
un unwanted flooding or, at least, unnecessary pools of water.
[0005] It would be of advantage in the art if a device could be
provided that would permit the construction of an effective
driveway drain for either commercial or residential internal or
external use at a low cost.
[0006] It would be another advance in the art if a drain for a
facility could be installed without the use of expensive pipes and
the like.
[0007] Other advantages will appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It has now been discovered that the above and other
advantages of the present invention may be obtained in the
following manner. Specifically, the present invention provides for
a simple, effective device for making a drain system without
expensive components such as culverts, pipes and the like.
[0009] In its simplest form, the present invention comprises a
metal "U" shaped form of appropriate size for a typical industrial
or residential building drain. The form is placed in an excavated
drain location, attached to a drain support member on both of the
longitudinal sides and held in place above the bottom of the
excavated location. Concrete or the like is poured under and around
the form and allowed to set. The form is then disconnected from the
drain support members and removed.
[0010] The form may be used alone or a number of similar forms may
be attached longitudinally to provide a form of sufficient length
to cover the entire area where the drain is to be installed. The
form and the other components are formed from a rigid material such
as steel or aluminum, that must be strong enough to withstand
pressure from the concrete or the like until it sets up and
hardens.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the "U" shaped form has vertical
sides, a horizontal bottom, and an angled portion at the junction
of the sides and bottom. The angle may be 45.degree. because that
is easy to fabricate, or other angles may be used. Plates of the
same or similar material are used to align and support the forms.
Also preferred is to have a flange at the top of the two sides
extending out from the form. Holes are drilled in the flanges to
permit the drain support members to be attached to the form.
[0012] The drain support members are angled metal bars, such as "L"
shaped angle iron having a 90.degree. bend so they can be attached
to the top of the form, such as to the flanges. A rod, such as
rebar, is driven into the ground next to the form and support
member and attached to them, such as with "U" bolts, thus providing
a stable form. After the concrete or the like has been poured, the
drain support members are left in place and serve to support and
align the drain grating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a more complete understanding of the invention,
reference is hereby made to the drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drain support member
used with the device of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] As seen in FIG. 1, the device, assembly 10 generally,
comprises a "U" shaped form 11 having vertical sides 13, a bottom
15 and an angled portion 17 connecting the sides to the bottom. As
shown, angled portion 17 is at 45.degree. though other angles can
be used. The function of the angled portion 17 is to facilitate the
removal of the form at the end of the installation.
[0017] In FIG. 1, two "U" shaped forms 11 and 11a are shown. It has
been found that three foot long forms are relatively easy to make
and use, and a number of forms can be assembled, on site or at the
shop, to have one continuous form of the required length. Lengths
up to 21 feet or more allow for one continuous drain formation.
Other lengths are also within the scope of this invention.
[0018] Forms 11 and 11a are attached together at the top using form
spreader 19 with nuts and bolts, not shown, or other fastener
means. Each end of form 11 that is not attached to another form 11a
has an end spreader 21. Spreaders 19 and 21 help to maintain the
walls 13 in a vertical orientation and prevents caving in of the
"U" shape when concrete or the like is poured on the outside of
walls 13. Similarly, an end cap 23 is provided to keep material out
of the "U" shape and is attached to the bottom 15 by lip 25.
[0019] The tops of walls 13 terminate in vertical flanges 27 that
extend out from walls 13 and also have holes 28. Attached on top of
flanges 27 is a drain support member 31, shown in FIG. 2. Drain
support member 31 is "L" shaped and has at least two vertical
portions 33, attached to the bottom of the "L", such as by welding.
Drain support members 31 are placed on top of form 11 and fastened
with screws or nuts and bolts to flange 27. A bar 35, such as rebar
or other metal rods normally used in concrete projects, is driven
into the group next to the location of the forms 11, 11a and so on.
In FIG. 1, two such rebar rods 35 are shown, but as many as needed
can be used. If the drain excavation is large, an additional
vertical portion 33 may be attached to drain support member 31,
such as in the middle or elsewhere and another bar 35 attached
there.
[0020] After the drain support member 31 is attached to form 11 on
flange 27, a "U" bolt 37 is placed around rod 35 and through holes
39 in vertical portion 33 and fastened with nuts 41 to hold the
entire assembly in place. The assembly 10 is ready for
concrete.
[0021] Upon completion of the installation, form spreaders 19, end
spreaders 21 and end plates 23 are removed and drain support
members 31 are unfastened from flanges 27. The walls 13 of form 11
are pushed inward and the form is lifted out, leaving the drain
support members 31 in place. A drain grate, not shown, can then be
placed on the drain support members 31
[0022] To use the present invention, the number of forms 11 that
are necessary to span with width of the location are assembled on
site or at the shop. A typical driveway may require 15 feet of
forms, though any length may be used as needed. A trench is dug and
the plumber places any pipe on location that transfers water to a
waste trap or pond, depending on site requirements.
[0023] In order to insure that there is space under the forms 11 to
have a bottom to the pour, blocks of wood or other materials are
placed below them and the location of forms 11 is established. Form
spreaders 19, end spreaders 21 and end caps 23 are attached as
needed, giving rigidity to the forms 11. Drain support members 31
are attached to flanges 27 if they have not yet been so attached.
Bars 35 are driven into place and the entire unit is aligned and
fastened to bars 35 with "U" bold 37 through holes 39 in member 33
with nuts 41. The blocks of wood or other material are then removed
because the assembly 10 is securely in place.
[0024] Concrete or the like is then poured around the assembly 10
and allowed to harden. At this point, the spreaders 19 and 21, and
end caps 23 are removed and drain support member 31 is detached
from flanges 27. Sides 13 are pushed toward each other to allow the
forms 11 to be removed, cleaned and reused. The site is cleaned up
and the drain grate, if one is used, is placed on drain support
members 31 and, optionally, fastened thereto.
[0025] The present invention is used to place a drain in a building
such as a shop, garage, or manufacturing facility. It may also be
used outdoors where water, from rain, snow or other sources, is to
flow under a surface such as a driveway and into a waste trap, in
commercial applications, or into dry layed pipes above ground for
some residential driveways and the like. Alternatively, if a drain
grate is not needed, a cover can be placed over the formed drain
and paved over or otherwise covered much like a culvert.
[0026] An important advantage of the present invention is that the
drain installer and the related parts described above can be used
many times, thus substantially reducing equipment costs while
providing a fully acceptable drain for commercial and residential
or rural sites.
[0027] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *