# US 2019/0169831 A1 · Trench drain providing variable drain location and installation

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- Number: US 2019/0169831 A1
- Document ID: US20190169831A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/209,562
- Filed: 2018-12-04
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04
- Assignees: Noble Manufacturing Company
- Applicants: Noble Manufacturing, LLC
- Inventors: James Anthony Wadaga; Paul Kik, SR.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169831A1

## CPC

- E03F 5/0408: {specially adapted for showers}
- E03F 3/046: {Open sewage channels}
- E03F 5/0407: {Floor drains for indoor use}
- E03F 5/0409: {Devices for preventing seepage around the floor drain}
- E03F 2005/0415: {for horizontal position adjustment}
- E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS

## Abstract

A trench drain apparatus includes a trench body and an insert that can be assembled to the trench body to adjustably locate a trench drain hole in the insert relative to a footprint of the trench body. This allows adjustment of the trench drain hole at the installation site, yet takes advantage of pre-manufactured components. An upper surface of the trench body may receive an optional waterproof membrane clamped onto the sealing surface by a clamp ring. The insert can be rotated 180 degrees prior to installation to provide two different drain hole locations, or can be cut on site at one or both ends so that the drain hole ends up at desired location optimally matching a pre-existing drainage pipe opening. Methods related to the above are also provided, including adjusting the insert to locate the trench drain hole at an optimal location.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A trench drain apparatus, comprising:
a trench body having a foot print when in an installed position, and defining a cavity that is upwardly and downwardly open when in the installed position; and
an insert defining a trench drain hole and that can be assembled to the cavity of the trench body to adjustably locate the trench drain hole relative to a foot print of the trench body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The trench drain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trench body has an upper surface around the cavity that is adapted to receive a waterproof membrane and a clamp ring for clamping the waterproof membrane onto the upper surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The trench drain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity is elongated and defines a continuous cross-sectional shape, and the insert is also elongated and defines a corresponding cross-sectional shape generally matching the cross-sectional shape of the cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The trench drain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity is elongated and defines a cavity length, and the insert is also elongated and defines an insert length greater than the cavity length such that the insert may be cut to the cavity length to adjust the position of the trench drain hole relative to the trench body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The trench drain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert fits into a bottom of the cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The trench drain apparatus of claim 5, wherein the trench body includes abutment ledges that abut an upper surface of the insert when the insert is positioned in the cavity.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The trench drain apparatus of claim 6, wherein the abutment ledges are located at a depth within the cavity that corresponds to a thickness of the insert so that a bottom surface of the insert is generally co-planar with a bottom surface of the trench body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The trench drain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert has a length with a longitudinal center and the trench drain hole is offset from the longitudinal center.

### Claim 9

An adjustable-drain-location-defining system for a moisture-laden environment with a floor drain, comprising:
a trench body defining a cavity that is upwardly and downwardly open when in an installed position; and
an insert shaped to matingly and adjustably fit into the cavity, the insert defining a drain hole that can be adjustably located in the trench body when the insert is assembled to the trench body, which in turn adjustably locates the trench drain hole relative to a foot print of the trench body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the trench body includes an upper surface configured to receive a waterproof membrane and a clamp ring for holding the waterproof membrane on the upper surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the trench body further includes a sloped surface that extends toward the cavity for directing gravity-biased water toward the cavity.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the insert fits into a bottom of the cavity.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the trench body includes abutment ledges that abut an upper surface of the insert when the insert is positioned in the cavity.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the abutment ledges are located at a depth within the cavity that corresponds to a thickness of the insert so that a bottom surface of the insert is generally co-planar with a bottom surface of the trench body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the insert has a length with a longitudinal center and the trench drain hole is offset from the longitudinal center.

### Claim 16

A method of placing a trench drain opening in a desired location, comprising:
providing a trench body defining a footprint when installed and having a cavity that is upwardly and downwardly open when in the installed position;
providing an insert defining a trench drain hole; and
assembling the insert to the trench body to adjustably locate the trench drain hole relative to the foot print of the trench body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the insert has a length with a longitudinal center and the trench drain hole is offset from the longitudinal center.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the trench body includes an upper surface configured to receive a waterproof membrane and a clamp ring for holding the waterproof membrane on the upper surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising cutting the insert to a length that fits within the cavity of the trench body such that the trench drain hole is adjustably located relative to the trench body.

### Claim 20

A method of placing a drain opening in a desired location to match a drainage pipe, comprising:
providing a body defining a footprint when installed and having a cavity that is upwardly and downwardly open when in the installed position;
providing an insert defining a drain hole;
adjustably assembling the insert to the body to adjustably locate the trench drain hole on the body; and
coupling the insert to the body to form a leak-free assembly around the insert and the body.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the insert has a center and the drain hole is offset from the center.