Systems and Methods Related to Liquid Drainage

Abstract

Systems and methods for draining liquids include spaced support members and drainage ribs extending therebetween. Adjacent rows of drainage ribs may establish a general checkerboard pattern of ribs and interstitial spaces therebetween. Drainage ribs may have a differential height along their length, though may have substantially coplanar bottom surfaces. A first support member is provided with stress risers to enable enhanced bending capability to provide a customizable device width for mating with predetermined liquid conduit sizes, such as roofing gutters having upward-facing channel widths.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Management of waste liquid and/or liquid runoff is of utmost importance in modern society. Displaced, blocked, or backed-up liquid can cause real and personal property damage, and even injury, through erosion, corrosion, or simply absorption tending towards rot or fungus invasion. For instance, extensive efforts are undertaken in the development of new residential neighborhoods and business parks to ensure that environmental runoff is directed and contained for further natural or artificial treatment. Likewise, industrial and interior liquid drains assist in managing and conveying spilled or used liquid to holding tanks or other liquid treatment systems.

Prior devices have been developed in an effort to allow liquid to pass but to block obstructive articles from entering a liquid conduit. Such devices may be referred to generally as grates, screens, covers, etc. Improvements to prior drainage devices are desirable to improve liquid drainage and attempt to minimize or eliminate blockage or obstruction thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of systems and methods according to the present invention relate generally to liquid drainage, and more particularly to improved passive liquid drainage grates.

An embodiment of a device according to the present invention includes a first support member having a first support member length, and a second support member spaced at least substantially equidistant from the first support member along at least a majority of the first support member length. A first plurality of spaced drainage ribs extend from the first support member towards the second support member, and a second plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the second support member towards the first support member. A third plurality of spaced drainage ribs extend between and are coupled to the first plurality of drainage ribs and the second plurality of drainage ribs. The third plurality of drainage ribs is preferably longitudinally offset from at least one of the first plurality of drainage ribs and the second plurality of drainage ribs. Such offset may create an alternating checkerboard pattern of ribs and spaces. The first plurality of drainage ribs and the second plurality of drainage ribs may be longitudinally aligned.

According to another aspect of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, each drainage rib may include a bottom surface that is coplanar with a bottom surface of every other drainage rib.

According to a further aspect of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, each rib may extend from a rib first end to a rib second end, having a rib height, wherein the rib height measured at the rib first end may be different than the rib height measured at the rib second end.

According to still another aspect of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, each respective rib first end may be positioned closer to the first support structure than each respective rib second end and the rib height measured at the rib first end may be less than (e.g., shorter than) the rib height measured at the rib second end.

According to yet another aspect of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, the device may further include a drainage channel having an open top and a free edge, wherein the second support member is secured to the free edge continuously (e.g., with adhesive) and/or at one or more attachment locations (e.g., with adhesive or with mechanical fasteners, such as screws). Such drainage channel may be a gutter secured to a building facia.

According to still a further aspect of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, the device may have an overall rectangular or circular shape.

According to yet a further aspect of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention, at least one spacing rib (and more preferably two spacing ribs) may be located and extending between at least two adjacent drainage ribs, and preferably at least one spacing rib is provided between all adjacent drainage ribs. The spacing ribs are preferably substantially evenly distributed along the length of the adjacent drainage ribs.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of a system according to the present invention, a rain gutter defines a vertically upward facing open channel between a first longitudinal lip affixed adjacent to a roof fascia and a second longitudinal free lip disposed at least substantially parallel to the first longitudinal lip. A first drainage grate is secured to the rain gutter. The first drainage grate includes a first support member having a first support member length and a second support member spaced at least substantially equidistant from the first support member along at least a majority of the first support member length. The grate further includes a first plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the first support member towards the second support member and a second plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the second support member towards the first support member, wherein the first drainage grate is secured to the rain gutter only by the second support member of the first drainage grate being secured to the second longitudinal free lip.

According to another aspect of an embodiment of a system according to the present invention, a second drainage grate may be included, the second drainage grate being at least substantially identical to the first drainage grate, and wherein the second drainage grate is secured to the rain gutter only by the second support member of the second drainage grate being secured to the second longitudinal free lip.

According to still another aspect of an embodiment of a system according to the present invention, the second drainage grate may be abutted to and in physical contact with the first drainage grate, which may include some lateral overlap.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention, the method includes the step of providing a first device. The first device includes a first support member having a first support member length and a second support member spaced at least substantially equidistant from the first support member along at least a majority of the first support member length. The first device also includes a first plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the first support member towards the second support member and a second plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the second support member towards the first support member. The first device is placed above a rain gutter (which may be affixed adjacent a fascia of a building roof), the first support member is inserted under a roofing layer disposed on the building roof, and the second support member is secured to a free longitudinal lip of the rain gutter.

According to another aspect of an embodiment of a method according to the present invention, for a second device (at least substantially identical to the first device), repeating each of the providing, placing, inserting and securing steps. The method may further comprise the step of abutting the second device to the first device prior to the repeated securing step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a drainage grate according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enhanced perspective view of the right end of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan partial cutaway view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a left end elevation view of FIG. 5, in an installation configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a drainage grate according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-6, a first embodiment 100 of a liquid drainage grate according to the present invention can be seen. The grate 100 extends along a grate length 102 from and including a first grate end 102a and to and including a second grate end 102b, which may be a substantially linear length as shown, or at least a length defined along a path that is located between and preferably equidistant from a first support member 104 and a second support member 106 if other shapes (e.g., circular) are utilized for the overall grate. The first support member 104 has a first support member length 104a, which is measured parallel or concentrically to the grate length 102. The second support member 106 has a second support member length 106a, which is measured parallel or concentrically to the grate length 102, and may approximate or be equal thereto.

The first support member 104 is preferably a substantially planar plate 110 having a substantially consistent thickness 112 throughout a first support member width 114 from a mounting edge 116 to a support edge 118. Additionally or alternatively, the first support member 104 may include one or more stress riser formations 111, such as longitudinal grooves extending preferably along the entire first support member length 104a, which may assist in providing enhanced flexibility along such formations 111 to aid in installation, as later described.

The second support member 106 is preferably an angular member 120 having an L-shaped cross-section along at least a portion of (and more preferably along a majority of, and most preferably along the entire) the second support member length 106a, the cross-section including a first mounting leg 122 and a beam leg 124. The mounting leg 122 extends substantially parallel to and/or coplanar with the first support member 104. The mounting leg 122 has a free edge 123 facing radially outwardly from the remainder of the grate 100. The mounting leg 122 preferably includes one or more mounting notches, slots or apertures 106b formed therethrough. The beam leg 124 depends downwardly from the mounting leg 122, preferably at least partially supporting a plurality of drainage ribs 152 discussed below. While the second support member 106 preferably has an L-shaped cross section, it is to be understood that the mounting leg 122 and the beam leg 124 may not be joined, as the beam leg 124 may be spaced from the mounting leg 122, towards the first support member 104, or even eliminated altogether.

The first support member 104 and the second support member 106 are preferably spaced from each other along the entirety of the grate length 102 by a drainage gap 130. Spanning the drainage gap 130 is a drainage rib structure 150. The drainage rib structure 150 includes a plurality of drainage ribs 152 defining fluid passageways in the interstitial spaces 154 therebetween. The drainage ribs 152 are preferably provided in a plurality of rows 156 to span the drainage gap 130. The rows 156 extend parallel to the grate length 102, but each drainage rib 152 preferably extends along a rib length 152a that is not parallel to the grate length 102. The rib length 152a preferably extends substantially perpendicular to (or radially through) the grate length 102. In adjacent rows of drainage ribs 152, the ribs 152 are preferably not aligned along their respective rib length 152a. That is, there is preferably a rib offset 151 between a median line along a rib 152 in a first row 156 and a medial line along a rib 152 in a second row 156, the second row being adjacent to the first. A preferred rib offset 151 preferably positions ribs 152 in adjacent rows 156 substantially centered along the interstitial spaces 154 of adjacent row(s) 156, thus creating a substantially checkerboard pattern (when viewed from above, as in FIG. 3) of ribs 152 and spaces 154.

Each rib 152 is preferably a solid member, preferably having an at least substantially consistent width (measured parallel to the device length 102), which extends from a rear end 152b (closer to the first support member 104) to a front end 152c (closer to the second support member 106). Each rib 152 is preferably wedge-shaped, with a shorter height provided at the rear end 152b and a taller height, or knee, provided at the front end 152c. This height differential provides a discontinuous step arrangement between the first support member 104 and the second support member 106. Though other configurations are contemplated, a top surface 152d of each rib is preferably rounded about an axis running parallel to the top surface 152d along the rib length 152a. A bottom surface 152e of each rib 152 is preferably substantially coplanar with bottom surfaces 152e of other ribs 152 in the same row 156 and/or preferably substantially coplanar with bottom surfaces 152e of ribs 152 in adjacent rows 156, if provided. The described arrangement of ribs 152 preferably provides surface disruption in three dimensions, each of which has been found to be advantageous in promoting liquid drainage. Such surface disruption may also enhance traction if the grate is intended for use in a floor drain or conduit.

While only a single row 156 of ribs 152 may be used, where more than one row 156 of ribs 152 is utilized, adjacent rows 156 are preferably supported by a support beam 160 extending along a support beam length 162. The support beam 160 is preferably spaced at least substantially equidistant from the first support member 104 and/or the second support member 106 along at least a majority of the respective first support member length 104a and/or second support member length 106a. While the support beam 160 may be indirectly coupled to the first support member 104 and the second support member 106 (e.g., through ribs 152), the support beam 160 is preferably located between and spaced from the first support member 104 and the second support member 106.

Devices 100 according to the present invention may be provided (e.g., in an installation kit package) in a single or variety of lengths 102. Preferably, however, a mating structure is provided to maintain front-to-back and lateral registration of adjacent devices 100 placed along a length of a conduit that may be longer than a single length 102. The mating structure preferably includes registration tabs 158 to nest against and cooperate with the support beam(s) 160 and/or beam leg 124 to assist in front-to-back registration and general device alignment. The mating structure preferably also includes a registration rib 152r extending from the same end 102b of the device 100 and/or a registration extension 106c of the second support member 106. The registration rib 152r and extension 106c assist in maintaining lateral registration to form a substantially uninterrupted checkerboard pattern of ribs 152 and spaces 154, as previously discussed, as between adjacent devices 100.

To use a device 100 according to the present invention, the rib structure 150 is placed over a liquid conduit, such as a drain pipe, trough or gutter. The device 100 may then be secured to the liquid conduit, itself, or other supporting structure. An example of a preferred liquid conduit to be used in conjunction with a device 100 according to the present invention is a common rain gutter fastened to a building structure, such as a house. Rain gutters are generally thought to be available in a variety of cross-sections, usually referred to as styles or types (Styles A through K, for example). Each style or type of rain gutter, however, generally has a front, rolled or bent edge or lip, and also has a rear mounting flange to be secured to a support structure, such as a roofing facia on a building, and an upward-facing channel extending therebetween of a predetermined width, such as between about 3.5 inches and about 6.5 inches. Devices according to the present invention may be utilized with a variety of gutter cross-sections.

Referring now to FIG. 7, to use a device or system according to the present invention, a first device 100 according to the present invention may be positioned over a rain gutter 10 and preferably secured relative thereto. For instance, as shown in FIG. 7, the first support member 104 may be bent (e.g., along a stress riser 111) downwards towards a support beam 160 to or through an angle of approximately sixty degrees to approximately one hundred degrees, and more preferably about ninety degrees. In this way, at least a portion of the first support member 104 may be tucked between the rear gutter mounting flange 14 and support structure (e.g., facia), but the portion is more preferably inserted into the rain gutter 10. The first support member 104 may then be secured to a rear gutter mounting flange 14 (and/or other support structure, such as a facia) by fasteners (e.g. screws). The second support member 106 may be positioned above and/or adjacent to a front, rolled or bent edge or lip 12 of the rain gutter 10, and fasteners (e.g. screws) may be driven through the mounting apertures 106b and the gutter edge or lip 12.

The bending of the first support member 104, discussed above, may be avoided, such as when a roofing material proximate to or overhanging the gutter 10 allows for underlayment or overlayment of the first support member 104 relative thereto. For instance, on a structure including asphalt shingles, it may be possible to insert the first support member 104 between those shingles and another roofing layer (e.g., tar paper, roofing substrate (e.g., plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), or another shingle layer), and then fasten only the second support member 106 to the gutter 10, as previously described. In this way, the first support member 104 (or a portion of it) can be held in place (e.g., sandwiched) between one layer of roofing material and another without the need for additional fasteners, though additional fasteners could be used. If the first support member 104 is overlayed (i.e., on top of) all layers of roofing material,

To continue installation along a length of gutter 10 that is longer (e.g., between capped gutter ends) than the first installed device 100, a second device 100 according to the present invention may be positioned over the gutter and next to the first device 100, preferably in an abutting relationship, with cooperation of mating registration tabs 158, support beams 160, and/or registration rib(s) 152r. The securement of the second device 100 relative to the gutter may then be repeated as was performed for the first device 100. This installation process may be repeated for subsequent devices 100, until a complete longitudinal length of the gutter is covered by one or more devices 100. It may be desirable to trim the length 102 of one of the devices 100 to be installed over the gutter 10, so as to eliminate overhang in the event that the gutter length is not substantially equal to a multiple of the device length 102. Trimming of the length may be performed with a power tool (e.g., cutoff wheel, band saw, etc.) or with hand tools (e.g., aviation snips, side cutters, utility knife, etc.), and may be done at a mitered angle so as to provide an apparent continuous device 100 along an entire length of gutter 10 between capped ends thereof.

Once installed, liquid is free to run either directly into the interstitial spaces 154 (e.g, falling rain directly through grate) or liquid may be received by and flow at least partially across the first support member 104 (e.g., roof or floor runoff) or by ribs 152, and then may flow into the interstitial spaces 154. The surface disruptions caused by the features of devices according to the present invention improve liquid drainage. Additionally, such disruptions may provide additional air passageways to increase likelihood that debris that may come to rest on the device (e.g., on one or more rib top surface(s) 152d) is dislodged due to ambient air currents or wind.

Turning now to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a second embodiment 200 of a liquid drainage grate according to the present invention can be seen. The second embodiment 200 is at least substantially similar to the first embodiment 100 in terms of structure, organization, and installation, such that the above description generally describes the second embodiment 200 as well, and where like numbering refers to identical or substantially similar structure. The second embodiment 200 further includes one or more spacing ribs 253 in the drainage rib structure 250, preferably located between each and every drainage rib 252. The spacing ribs 253 preferably run at least substantially perpendicularly (or radially) to or through the drainage ribs 252 and preferably extend from the first grate end 202a to the second grate end 202b, and preferably parallel to the grate length 202.

Each spacing rib 253 is preferably a solid member having an at least substantially consistent width (measured perpendicular to the device length (e.g., 102)) along its length (measured parallel to the device length (e.g., 102)). Though other configurations are contemplated, a top surface 253b of each spacing rib is preferably rounded (or has rounded edges) about an axis or axes running parallel to the top surface 253b, substantially perpendicular to a drainage rib 252. A bottom surface 253c of each spacing rib 253 is preferably substantially coplanar with bottom surfaces 253c of other spacing ribs 253 in the same row 256 of drainage ribs 252 and/or preferably substantially coplanar with bottom surfaces 253c of spacing ribs 253 in adjacent rows 256, if provided.

Liquid drainage devices according to the present invention may be formed of any material suitable to withstand continued exposure to a liquid to be drained. For instance, if water is a primary liquid to be drained, such as water received from a shingled roof, a preferred material may be a high-density polyethylene copolymer having a preferred durometer, such as a Shore D rating of greater than zero to about 80, and more preferably about 65. Whereas, if a liquid to be received by drainage devices according to the present invention are oils, gels, etc., such as in a manufacturing setting, materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may be desirable. Drainage devices according to the present invention may be injection molded, cast, CNC machined, etc., as is known in the art.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, because numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A device comprising: a first support member having a first support member length;a second support member spaced at least substantially equidistant from the first support member along at least a majority of the first support member length;a first plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the first support member towards the second support member;a second plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the second support member towards the first support member; anda third plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending between and coupled to the first plurality of drainage ribs and the second plurality of drainage ribs,wherein the third plurality of drainage ribs is longitudinally offset from at least one of the first plurality of drainage ribs and the second plurality of drainage ribs.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of drainage ribs and the second plurality of drainage ribs are longitudinally aligned.

3. A device according to claim 1, each drainage rib comprising a bottom surface that is coplanar with a bottom surface of every other drainage rib.

4. A device according to claim 1, each rib extending from a rib first end to a rib second end and having a rib height, the rib height measured at the rib first end being different than the rib height measured at the rib second end.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein each respective rib first end is closer to the first support structure than each respective rib second end and the rib height measured at the rib first end is less than the rib height measured at the rib second end.

6. A device according to claim 5, further comprising: a drainage channel having an open top and a free edge,wherein the second support member is secured to the free edge.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the drainage channel is a gutter secured to a building facia.

8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an overall shape selected from the group consisting of: a rectangle and a circle.

9. A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one spacing rib located and extending between adjacent drainage ribs.

10. A device according to claim 9, comprising two spacing ribs located and extending between adjacent drainage ribs.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein a first of the two spacing ribs is located at a position that is approximately one third of a length of the adjacent drainage ribs from a first end of the adjacent drainage ribs, and a second of the two spacing ribs is located at a position that is approximately one third of the length of the adjacent drainage ribs from a second end of the adjacent drainage ribs.

12. A system comprising: a rain gutter defining a vertically upward facing open channel between a first longitudinal lip affixed adjacent to a roof fascia and a second longitudinal free lip disposed at least substantially parallel to the first longitudinal lip;a first drainage grate comprising: a first support member having a first support member length;a second support member spaced at least substantially equidistant from the first support member along at least a majority of the first support member length;a first plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the first support member towards the second support member; anda second plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the second support member towards the first support member;wherein the first drainage grate is secured to the rain gutter only by the second support member of the first drainage grate being secured to the second longitudinal free lip.

13. A system according to claim 12, further comprising: a second drainage grate, the second drainage grate being at least substantially identical to the first drainage grate,wherein the second drainage grate is secured to the rain gutter only by the second support member of the second drainage grate being secured to the second longitudinal free lip.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the second drainage grate is abutted to and in physical contact with the first drainage grate.

15. A method comprising the steps of: providing a first device comprising: a first support member having a first support member length;a second support member spaced at least substantially equidistant from the first support member along at least a majority of the first support member length;a first plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the first support member towards the second support member; anda second plurality of spaced drainage ribs extending from the second support member towards the first support member;placing the first device above a rain gutter, the rain gutter affixed adjacent a fascia of a building roof;inserting the first support member under a roofing layer disposed on the building roof; andsecuring the second support member to a free longitudinal lip of the rain gutter.

16. A method according to claim 15, the method further comprising the step of: for a second device, repeating each of the providing, placing, inserting and securing steps.

17. A claim according to claim 16, further comprising the step of: abutting the second device to the first device prior to the repeated securing step.