Grate apparatus and method for covering and opening a channel in a vehicle wash

A method of covering and exposing a pit disposed in a floor of a vehicle wash facility, the pit including a pair of opposing tracks each secured adjacent a side of the pit, the method comprising:

• providing a grate assembly including:
• a plurality of rung pieces extending between a first end and a second end, and having an upper surface and a lower surface between the first end and the second end;
• a plurality of flexible straps fixedly securing the plurality of rung pieces into a unitary structure wherein the plurality of rung pieces are oriented in a generally parallel spaced apart relationship having a front rung piece, a back rung piece and a plurality of intermediate rung pieces;
• disposing the grate assembly over the pit such that the first end of each of the plurality of rung pieces engages one of the pair of spaced apart tracks and the second end of each of the plurality of rung pieces engages the other of the pair of spaced apart tracks;
• winding the grate assembly to a coiled position to expose the pit by rolling the rung pieces over one another in a direction from the front rung piece toward the back rung piece such that the grate assembly has a centerline that is oriented generally parallel to the floor of the vehicle wash facility;
• pivoting the coiled grate assembly to a position adjacent the pit such that the first ends of the plurality of rung pieces engage the floor and the centerline of the coiled grate assembly is oriented generally perpendicular to the floor, and such that each of the rails extend generally perpendicularly to the floor between the first end and the second and in generally parallel relationship with the centerline.

A grate apparatus for covering a channel defined by a floor of a car wash including a pair of tracks disposed in spaced and parallel relationship with one another along the channel comprising;

• a plurality of rails of a metal material and having a square shaped cross-section and extending in spaced and parallel relationship with one another between a first end and a second end,
• each of said rails defining an outer wall and a hollow extending therethrough between said first end and said second end,
• said outer wall having a thickness of 0.009 inches,
• said plurality of rails including a front rail and a back rail and a plurality of intermediate rails between said front rail and said back rail,
• said front rail defining a front length between said first end and said second end of said front rail,
• said intermediate rails defining an intermediate length between said first end and said second end of said intermediate rails,
• said back rail defining a back length between said first end and said second end of said back rail,
• said back length and intermediate length being equal to one another for allowing said tracks to fit between said tracks,
• said front length being less than said intermediate and back lengths,
• and characterized by,
• at least one strap of flexible material extending perpendicularly to and engaging each of said rails to connect said rails and to maintain said rails in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and to allow said rails to be rolled over one another into a coiled position,
• said flexible material being urethane,
• said strap including a pair of straps extending in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and spaced from said first and second ends of said rails,
• a plurality of fasteners each connecting one of said rails and one of said straps, said fasteners being a plurality of screws each threadedly extending through one of said rails and one of said straps to connect said rails and straps,
• a cap of organic polymer material disposed about said first and second ends of each of said intermediate and back rails for preventing said first and second ends from being damaged and for preventing debris from entering said hollows of said rails,
• a connector connected with said front rail for locking said front rail to one of the tracks, said connector including a pair of legs pivotally connected with said front rail extending in spaced and parallel relationship with one another for connecting with one of said tracks to lock said front rail to said track.

A method for closing and opening a channel in a floor of a car wash including a pair of tracks disposed in spaced and parallel relationship with one another along the channel using a plurality of rails including a front rail and a back rail and each of the rails extending between a first end and a second end in spaced and parallel relationship with one another, said method comprising the steps of;

• disposing the plurality of rails linearly along and over the channel in spaced and parallel relationship with one another to close the channel,
• and characterized by,
• said step of disposing the plurality of rails linearly along and over the channel in spaced and parallel relationship with one another to close the channel includes unrolling the plurality of rails over the channel from the back rail to the front rail into an uncoiled position,
• locking the front rail to one of the tracks,
• unlocking the front rail from the track,
• rolling the plurality of rails over one another from the front rail toward the back rail into a coiled position to open the channel,
• placing the plurality of rails on the floor in the coiled position with the first end of the rails engaging the floor, and with each of the rails extend generally perpendicularly to the floor between the first end and the second end.

A supporting structure inset in a floor, comprising:

• a pit defined by the floor;
• a pair of tracks disposed in spaced relationship with one another along a length of the pit;
• a grate apparatus including a plurality of rails constructed of a metal material, each of the plurality of rails having a first end configured to overlie one of the pair of tracks and a second end configured to overlie the other of the pair of tracks;
• the plurality of rails having an upper surface oriented to face away from the pit when the pit is covered and a lower surface oriented to face into the pit when the pit is covered;
• the plurality of rails fixedly secured to one other in generally parallel spaced apart relationship to form a unitary structure having a front rail, a back rail and a plurality of intermediate rails;
• the grate apparatus further including a plurality of elongate straps secured to at least one of the upper surface or the lower surface of each of the plurality of rails;
• wherein the plurality of elongate straps are generally flexible such that the unitary structure can be moved from a generally unwound position where the plurality of rails are oriented generally parallel to ground to a wound position where the plurality of rails and the plurality of elongate straps are coiled into a generally cylindrical shape;
• and
• wherein the plurality of elongate straps are secured to an upper surface of each of the rails and a lower surface of each of the rails.

A grate apparatus for covering a channel defined by a floor including a pair of tracks disposed in spaced and parallel relationship with one another along the channel comprising:

• a plurality of rails of and extending in spaced and generally parallel relationship with one another between a first end and a second end,
• said plurality of rails including a front rail and a back rail and a plurality of intermediate rails between said front rail and said back rail,
• said front rail defining a front length between said first end and said second end of said front rail,
• said intermediate rails defining an intermediate length between said first end and said second end of said intermediate rails,
• said back rail defining a back length between said first end and said second end of said back rail,
• at least one strap of flexible material extending perpendicularly to and engaging each of said rails to connect said rails and to maintain said rails in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and to allow said rails to be rolled over one another into a coiled position, and
• a plurality of fasteners each connecting one of said rails and said at least one strap, said fasteners being a plurality of screws each threadedly extending through one of said rails and said at least one strap to connect said rails and said at least one strap;
• wherein said back length of the rear rail is equal to the intermediate length of the plurality of intermediate rails;
• and
• wherein said front length is less than said intermediate and back lengths.

A grate apparatus for covering a channel defined by a floor including a pair of tracks disposed in spaced and parallel relationship with one another along the channel comprising:

• a plurality of rails of and extending in spaced and generally parallel relationship with one another between a first end and a second end,
• said plurality of rails including a front rail and a back rail and a plurality of intermediate rails between said front rail and said back rail,
• said front rail defining a front length between said first end and said second end of said front rail,
• said intermediate rails defining an intermediate length between said first end and said second end of said intermediate rails,
• said back rail defining a back length between said first end and said second end of said back rail,
• at least one strap of flexible material extending perpendicularly to and engaging each of said rails to connect said rails and to maintain said rails in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and to allow said rails to be rolled over one another into a coiled position, and
• a plurality of fasteners each connecting one of said rails and said at least one strap, said fasteners being a plurality of screws each threadedly extending through one of said rails and said at least one strap to connect said rails and said at least one strap;
• and
• a cap of organic polymer material disposed about said first and second ends of each of said intermediate and back rails for preventing said first and second ends from being damaged and for preventing debris from entering said hollows of said rails.

A grate apparatus for covering a channel defined by a floor including a pair of tracks disposed in spaced and parallel relationship with one another along the channel comprising:

• a plurality of rails of and extending in spaced and generally parallel relationship with one another between a first end and a second end,
• said plurality of rails including a front rail and a back rail and a plurality of intermediate rails between said front rail and said back rail,
• said front rail defining a front length between said first end and said second end of said front rail,
• said intermediate rails defining an intermediate length between said first end and said second end of said intermediate rails,
• said back rail defining a back length between said first end and said second end of said back rail,
• at least one strap of flexible material extending perpendicularly to and engaging each of said rails to connect said rails and to maintain said rails in spaced and parallel relationship with one another and to allow said rails to be rolled over one another into a coiled position, and
• a plurality of fasteners each connecting one of said rails and said at least one strap, said fasteners being a plurality of screws each threadedly extending through one of said rails and said at least one strap to connect said rails and said at least one strap;
• and
• a connector connected with said front rail for locking said front rail to one of the tracks.