Removable grate

A removable grate assembly comprising:

• a grate frame having a first section defining a first section interior endwall and a first section exterior endwall and a second section defining a second section interior endwall and a second section exterior endwall, said first section interior endwall and said second section interior endwall connected by two opposing sidewalls, said first section extending inwardly toward said first section interior endwall to form an internal projection defining a receiving recess on a side of said first interior endwall, said second section extending inwardly toward said second section interior endwall to form an internal projection defining a receiving recess on said second interior endwall,
• a removable grate section having a first interior endwall, a first exterior endwall, a second interior endwall, and a second exterior endwall, said first interior endwall and said second interior endwall connected by two opposing sidewalls, said first exterior endwall having an external projection extending therefrom on a side of said first exterior endwall, said second exterior endwall having an external projection extending therefrom on a side of said second exterior endwall, said removable grate section removably received by said grate frame, wherein said external projection of said first exterior endwall mates with its corresponding receiving recess of said first interior endwall and said external projection of said second exterior endwall mates with its corresponding receiving recess of said second interior endwall, and
• a drain trough that is substantially U-shaped having a hollow body portion and a ledge, said grate frame placed atop said ledge of said drain trough.

A method for providing a removable grate assembly for a channeled drain trough, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing:
• i) a grate frame having a first section defining a first section interior endwall and a first section exterior endwall and a second section defining a second section interior endwall and a second section exterior endwall, said first section interior endwall and said second section interior endwall connected by two opposing sidewalls, said first section extending inwardly toward said first section interior endwall to form an internal projection defining a receiving recess on a side of said first interior endwall, said second section extending inwardly toward said second section interior endwall to form an internal projection defining a receiving recess on said second interior endwall, and
• ii) a removable grate section having a first interior endwall, a first exterior endwall, a second interior endwall, and a second exterior endwall, said first interior endwall and said second interior endwall connected by two opposing sidewalls, said first exterior endwall having an external projection extending therefrom on a side of said first exterior endwall, said second exterior endwall having an external projection extending therefrom on a side of said second exterior endwall, said removable grate section removably received by said grate frame, wherein said external projection of said first exterior endwall is received within its corresponding receiving recess of said first interior endwall and said external projection of said second exterior endwall is received within its corresponding receiving recess of said second interior endwall, and
• iii) an alignment bar,
• b) aligning and placing said grate frame over a channeled drain trough;
• c) inserting said grate section into said grate frame;
• and
• d) inserting said alignment bar into a slot on a first of said two opposing sidewalls of said grate frame and into a slot on a second of said two opposing sidewalls of said grate frame;
• thereby locking said grate section to said grate frame.