US 5,529,436 A · Trench drain system

Abstract

An improved trench drain or so-called channel drain system is disclosed which provides a universal drainage unit, preferably formed of injection molded plastic in a standard length, for installation in concrete floors, airport areas, driveways, service station aprons, EPA-mandated on-site collection and disposal areas, and the like. The trench drain unit terminates at one end in a female end and at the other end in a male end. Such drain ends can respectively receive male and female end caps, whereby the drain operates as a single unit drain, or instead can receive the molded interlocking male and female ends of an adjacent trench drain unit, whereby a connected series drain system is created. The mating interlocking male and female ends so encapsulate one another as to create a substantially watertight connection. Drain openings covered by knock-out membranes, with downwardly-extending pipe flange connectors, are located proximal each respective end of the universal drain unit. The flange connectors facilitate connection to commercially available plastic drainpipes and connector components. When a trench drain unit is transversely sawn, i.e., field cut, to a desired terminal length, then essentially regardless where cut, it provides a female end capable of receiving a standard male end cap. Upstanding lugs formed on grate support ledges of the upper respective channel walls are received in slotted openings of the associated grate member. This cooperative engagement prevents any unwanted lateral expansion, i.e., spreading, of the channel side walls. The present trench drain unit, which is preferably installed flush with the floor, drains to a buried supplemental pipe having a suitable pitch. An alternate male end cap, i.e., a male end cap drain, is disclosed as having an opening encompassed by a pipe connector flange for permitting end-draining, that is draining out the terminal end of a trench drain unit when the particular installation application so requires.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A trench drain unit for draining surface fluids to a remote location, comprising in combination:

an open-topped, elongated trench member having a base portion, a non-pitched, fluid-carrying drainage channel formed with two upstanding wall members, and at least one bottom-draining opening forming in said base portion;
said at least one opening surrounded by at least one downwardly-extending pipe connector flange capable of sealably receiving an auxiliary drainpipe component;
said respective wall members having upper ends providing grate support means;
a grate member spanning said drainage channel and supported on said respective grate support means, said grate member including a plurality of grate openings;
one end of said elongated trench member terminating in a tongue end having a first female configuration;
the other end of said elongated trench member terminating in another tongue end having a male configuration which is complimentary to and interlockingly engageable within said tongue end of said first female configuration;
and
means provided along said elongated trench member for permitting said trench member to be cut along its length to form a cut end defining a second female configuration which matches said first female configuration, whereby a second trench member can have its tongue end having said male configuration inserted into said second female configuration of said cut end.

5 more elements

A universal trench drain comprising in combination:

an elongated, non-pitched trench drain member having an open-topped drainage channel formed by a bottom and two opposed side wall members,
at least one bottom-draining opening formed in said drainage channel bottom;
said trench drain member having two terminal ends, the first of said terminal ends having a longitudinally-extending male end configuration, and the second of said terminal ends having a longitudinally-extending female end configuration complimentary to said male end configuration;
and
a grate member spanning said drainage channel and supported atop said opposed side wall members, said grate member having a plurality of grate openings and the respective said side wall members have grate support ledges upon which said grate member is supported, said support ledges being formed with a plurality of lug members which are so positioned as to respectively lockably engage said plurality of grate openings to thereby cooperate to resist any lateral spreading of said opposed side walls.

2 more elements

A trench drain system comprising:

a plurality of elongated longitudinally extending trench drain members connected together in an end-to-end fashion, each of said trench drain members having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration formed from a base and two upstanding side walls;
one end of each of said trench drain members terminating in a male tongue end and the other end of each of the trench drain members terminating in a female tongue end, said female ends being capable of sealably receiving said male ends, each of said trench drain members being sealably connected in an end-to-end longitudinal fashion with adjacent male ends connected to adjacent female ends;
each of said trench drain members including means along a substantial majority of its length for forming a female end when said trench drain member is transversely but and allowing said trench drain members to be cut to fit within a predefined installation space while still providing a free female end;
and
a female end cap adapted to releasably, sealably connect to the said male end of a said trench drain member at one terminal end of the trench drain system and a male end cap adapted to releasably, sealably connect to the said female end of a said trench drain member at the other terminal end of the trench drain system.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Trench drain system

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Trench drain system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48