Modular trench drain system
AssigneeQuaker Plastic Corporation
InventorsDonald E. Dahowski, James G. Wilson, Allen L. Kinner, Christopher B. Presler, Matthew B. Schlager
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular trench drainage system for placement in a trench of a natural surface or pavement. The system includes a base conduit, a grate cover pivotably secured to the base conduit for covering the base member, a coupling mechanism for pivotably securing the grate cover to the base conduit, an alignment mechanism for aligning the grate cover with respect to the base conduit when the grate cover is placed in a closed position over the base conduit, and a locking mechanism for locking the grate cover to the base conduit.
Claims31
A drain system for placement into at least one of a natural surface and a pavement area and subjected to an inward pressure associated with at least one of expansion and contraction of the natural surface or pavement area, the drain system comprising:
- a base conduit including a lower wall and first and second opposing sidewalls extending from said lower wall to define a longitudinally-extending channel;
- a cover member moveable between an open position exposing said channel and a closed position covering said channel;
- a coupling mechanism for securing said cover member to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- an alignment mechanism for aligning said cover member with respect to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position,
- wherein said alignment mechanism is adapted to apply a support force to at least one of said sidewalls of said base conduit when said cover member is manipulated into said closed position, said alignment mechanism including an alignment bar projecting from a lower surface of said cover member and an alignment flange member projecting substantially perpendicularly from said first sidewall inwardly into said channel.
A drain system for placement into at least one of a natural surface and a pavement area and subjected to an inward pressure associated with at least one of expansion and contraction of the natural surface or pavement area, the drain system comprising:
- a base conduit including a lower wall and first and second opposing sidewalls extending from said lower wall to define a longitudinally-extending channel;
- a cover member moveable between an open position exposing said channel and a closed position covering said channel;
- a coupling mechanism for securing said cover member to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- an alignment mechanism for aligning said cover member with respect to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position,
- wherein said alignment mechanism is adapted to apply a support force to at least one of said sidewalls of said base conduit when said cover member is manipulated into said closed position, and said coupling mechanism comprises a first coupling member formed on said second sidewall and a second coupling member formed on a lower surface of said cover member for engagement with said first coupling member when said cover member is in said closed position.
A drain system for placement into at least one of a natural surface and a pavement area and subjected to an inward pressure associated with at least one of expansion and contraction of the natural surface or pavement area, the drain system comprising:
- a base conduit including a lower wall and first and second opposing sidewalls extending from said lower wall to define a longitudinally-extending channel;
- a cover member moveable between an open position exposing said channel and a closed position covering said channel;
- a coupling mechanism for securing said cover member to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- an alignment mechanism for aligning said cover member with respect to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position,
- wherein said alignment mechanism is adapted to apply a support force to at least one of said sidewalls of said base conduit when said cover member is manipulated into said closed position, and said coupling mechanism comprises upper and lower coupling members formed on said second sidewall and a second coupling member formed on said cover member for engagement with said upper and lower coupling members when said cover member is in said closed position.
A drain system for placement in at least one of a natural surface and pavement area and subjected to an inward pressure associated with at least one of expansion and contraction of the natural surface or pavement area, the drain system comprising:
- a base conduit including a lower wall and first and second opposing sidewalls extending from said lower wall to define a longitudinally-extending channel;
- a cover member connectable to said base conduit and operable between an open position exposing said channel and a closed position covering said channel, said cover member comprising a body including a lower surface that faces into said channel and an upper surface that is coplanar with the contiguous surface of the natural surface or pavement area when said cover member is in said closed position covering said channel;
- a coupling device for securing said cover member to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- a locking device for providing a locking connection between said cover member and said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- an alignment mechanism for aligning said cover member with respect to said base conduit, said alignment mechanism including a second coupling device comprising an alignment bar that projects from said lower surface of said cover member and an alignment flange member, said alignment flange member projecting substantially perpendicularly from said first sidewall inwardly into said channel;
- wherein said alignment bar includes a contact surface adapted to apply a support force to a distal end of said alignment flange member.
A drain system for placement in at least one of a natural surface and pavement area and subjected to an inward pressure associated with at least one of expansion and contraction of the natural surface or pavement area, the drain system comprising:
- a base conduit including a lower wall and first and second opposing sidewalls extending from said lower wall to define a longitudinally-extending channel;
- a cover member connectable to said base conduit and operable between an open position exposing said channel and a closed position covering said channel, said cover member comprising a body including a lower surface that faces into said channel and an upper surface that is coplanar with the contiguous surface of the natural surface or pavement area;
- a coupling device for securing said cover member to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- a locking device for providing a locking connection between said cover member and said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- an alignment mechanism for aligning said cover member with respect to said base conduit, said alignment mechanism including a second coupling device comprising an alignment bar that projects from said lower surface of said cover member and an alignment flange member,
- wherein said alignment bar includes a contact surface adapted to apply a force to a distal end of said alignment flange member, and said coupling mechanism comprises a first coupling member formed on said second sidewall and a second coupling member formed on said lower surface of said cover member for engagement with said first coupling member when said cover member is in said closed position.
A drain system for placement in at least one of a natural surface and pavement area and subjected to an inward pressure associated with at least one of expansion and contraction of the natural surface or pavement area, the drain system comprising:
- a base conduit including a lower wall and first and second opposing sidewalls extending from said lower wall to define a longitudinally-extending channel;
- a cover member connectable to said base conduit and operable between an open position exposing said channel and a closed position covering said channel, said cover member comprising a body including a lower surface that faces into said channel and an upper surface that is coplanar with the contiguous surface of the natural surface or pavement area;
- a coupling device for securing said cover member to said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- a locking device for providing a locking connection between said cover member and said base conduit when said cover member is in said closed position;
- and
- an alignment mechanism for aligning said cover member with respect to said base conduit, said alignment mechanism including a second coupling device comprising an alignment bar that projects from said lower surface of said cover member and an alignment flange member,
- wherein said alignment bar includes a contact surface adapted to apply a support force to a distal end of said alignment flange member, and said coupling mechanism comprises upper and lower coupling members formed on said second sidewall and a second coupling member formed on said cover member for engagement with said upper and lower coupling members when said cover member is in said closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.