Patent Grant
12203259
None.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates generally to drainage systems that are configured to capture excess water or other liquid in one location and transfer the liquid to another location where the liquid will not cause damage. In particular, the present invention relates to channel drain systems and apparatuses utilized in such systems to connect one component of a channel drain to another component in a manner which facilitates flow of excess liquid from one location to another. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to fittings and other connectors that are utilized to effectively connect a section of a channel drain to another section of channel drain or to another drainage system component.
Drainage systems are utilized to transfer excess water or other liquids from a location where the liquid is considered excess to a location where the liquid can be utilized or be directed to an area where the liquid can be safely handled. In one configuration, a local area drainage system is commonly utilized to capture excess liquid in a location where the liquid could cause damage and to move the liquid to another location where it will not cause damage, such as directing water away from around a house, business or other structure to a stormwater drainage system that will move the water to a stormwater collection basin or other designated area or body of water. Excess water can be a result of a rain storm, melting snow, over-watering by sprinklers or irrigation, vehicle washing and the like. Other excess liquids can be a result of spills, drains from structures and other unplanned releases of liquids. For purposes of the present disclosure, reference herein will primarily be made to drainage systems that are used to collect and move water. However, as will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, such drainage systems can equally be utilized to collect and move a wide variety of other liquids.
One type of drainage system that is commonly utilized to collect and move excess water is referred to as a channel drain system. As well known in the relevant art, channel drain systems are utilized to protect property during storms or other sources of excess water by capturing the water and transporting it to areas where the excess water cannot cause damage. A typical channel drain system comprises a series of elongated channel drain sections that define a generally U-shaped channel having a slotted cover, often referred to as a grate, that allows water to flow into the U-shaped channel. Typically, channel drain systems are configured for the grate to be removed so that the channel can be periodically cleaned out. In a common or standard installation, both the channel and the grate are placed in a trench that is sized and configured for the grate to be positioned at grade level. The trench is then normally backfilled with concrete or soil to hold the channel in place. The surface area around the grate is configured to slope towards the grate so excess water will flow into the channel through the slots in the grate. The channel itself is installed at a slope so that the water collected therein will flow by gravity from the area to be protected to an area where the excess water can be discharged, such as towards a street drain or a man-made French drain at a suitable location.
As well known to persons who are generally familiar with drainage systems, most channel drain systems cannot run in a straight line because the channel drains need to follow the layout of the area the system is draining. The non-linear nature of such drainage systems require fittings that connect to channel drains in a manner which allows the system to change directions. Such fittings may include tees, elbows, crosses and the like. Additionally, the water collected by the system must exit the channel drain either at its end or be discharged through selected drainage exit points along the bottom of the channel drain system. If the water exits the system from the bottom, a sealing plug is needed to close off the end of the channel to direct the water downward. Because each section of channel drain is typically configured in a relatively short length, a series of channel couplers and fittings are required to interconnect each section of channel drain.
All currently available channel drain systems typically require the use of a large number of different couplers and fittings in order to complete the system. As a result, during installation of a channel drain system, the installer will need to have a sufficient number of individual channel drain sections, with the appropriate grates, and numerous channel couplers and other fittings to connect the channel drain sections together and to other drainage components, such as pipes and drains. For example, for a typical channel drain system, an installer will need to use a plurality of tees, crosses, elbows, couplings, end plugs, end outlet adapters, bottom outlet discharge adapters and the like to complete the channel drainage system. In order to efficiently connect sections of channel drains and the other components utilized in a channel drain system, the installer has to have all of the possible couplers and fittings with him or her to avoid having to return to the shop or go to a store to obtain any “missing” couplers and/or fittings that are necessary to finish installing the system.
As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, it would be beneficial for installers of channel drain systems to have a single fitting that functions and provides the benefits of the wide variety of different couplers and fittings which are necessary to install a complete channel drain system. Unfortunately, prior attempts at providing such a single fitting have certain issues or limitations that generally make such attempts at a single component not that popular amongst persons who would otherwise benefit from their use. For instance, some of the prior art coupler/fitting components are hard to fabricate, which generally make these components more expensive than desired or likely to come apart in a manner that is not desired or intended. Other attempts require the installer to have to utilize tools, adhesives or other materials to be properly placed in a channel drain system. One prior art product has a four-outlet fitting that attaches to the end of a channel drain, but it requires tools (for example a knife must be used to open an outlet if required) to assemble and does not have an ability to drain water or other liquids from the bottom. As such, most installers of channel drain systems utilize the standard prior art fitting and, as a result, have to carry and have readily available a sufficient number and variety of couplers and other fittings in order to have available what he or she needs to install a channel drain system.
What is needed, therefore, is a universal channel drain fitting that can be used in place of a number of separate, individual couplers and fittings to install a channel drain system. More specifically, what is needed is a universal channel drain fitting that allows the user to easily adapt a single universal fitting for use as tees, crosses, elbows, couplings, end plugs, end outlet adapters, bottom outlet discharge adapters and the like in a channel drain system. Even more specifically, a single universal channel drain fitting should be configured in a manner to allow the installer to use the universal fitting in place of a wide variety of standard fittings so he or she can more effectively and efficiently install a channel drainage system. It would be particularly beneficial for a universal channel drain fitting to be able to be selectively configured by an installer as one of a number of standard couplers and fittings without the need for tools, adhesives or other materials so he or she can easily and quickly make modifications at a system location while installing a channel drain system. Preferably, any universal channel drain fitting should be manufactured of and in a manner that provides a relatively low cost universal fitting so that the fitting can be utilized in a wide variety of channel drain systems.
The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention to the reader. As such, this Summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of this Summary is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The use of terms such as “including”, “comprising”, “having” or “with” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. Further, the use of terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element or feature of an element from another. The term “and/or,” when used herein with a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed.
The new universal channel drain fitting of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention is directed to a new and improved universal channel drain fitting which is structured and arranged to be utilized in place of having a wide variety of separate, individual couplers and fittings (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “fittings”) to install a channel drain system. Specifically, the new universal channel drain fitting of the present invention allows an installer of a channel drain system to easily adapt the new universal fitting so that it can be utilized as a tee, cross, elbow, coupling, end plug, end outlet adapter, bottom outlet discharge adapter and like fittings (collectively referred to as “standard fittings”) in a channel drain system. More specifically, the new universal channel drain fitting is structured and arranged in a manner which allows the installer to use the new universal fitting in place of a wide variety of standard fittings. Utilizing the universal channel drain fitting of the present invention instead of standard fittings, the installer can more effectively and efficiently connect various drain components together when he or she is installing a channel drainage system. The installer can configure the new universal channel drain fitting as one of a wide variety of standard fittings without the need for tools, adhesives or other materials, which allows him or her to easily and quickly make the necessary modifications to the universal channel drain fitting while he or she is in the field installing a channel drain system. As such, the new universal channel drain fitting will eliminate or at least substantially reduce the need for the installer to acquire and carry with him or her a sufficient number and wide variety of different standard fittings when going to a location to install a channel drain system. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the new universal channel drain fitting is manufactured of and in such a manner that results in a relatively low cost universal fitting that can be utilized in a wide variety of channel drain systems. The universal channel drain fitting of the present invention is a single universal fitting that can be configured to achieve the function and benefits of a wide variety of standard fittings. The new universal channel drain fitting can be assembled very simply and quickly and without the use of any tools, adhesives or other materials. With the new universal channel drain fitting, the installer only has to have the universal channel drain fitting, which may be provided in a kit, available to him or her instead of having to have a multitude number of a wide variety of standard fittings to be able to install a channel drain system. In a preferred embodiment of using the new universal channel drain fitting, the kit components of the universal fitting can be packed in a relatively small box that contains all of the components that are necessary to make any of the standard fittings that may be required to install a channel drain system. Some of the standard fittings that can be assembled from a kit comprising the new universal channel drain fitting include: (1) a coupler to connect two pieces of channel sections together; (2) an end plug to seal off the end of the channel formed by multiple channel sections; (3) a tee to join an additional perpendicular channel section to a linear length of the channel; (4) an elbow to change direction, such as a ninety degree elbow to turn a corner ninety degrees; (5) a four-way cross to connect two perpendicular channel sections together; (6) a bottom drain outlet, with or without a leaf catcher, to connect to a discharge pipe from the bottom of the channel; and (7) an end outlet to connect to a discharge pipe at the end of the channel to direct water or other fluids away from the area where it has been collected. As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, the new universal channel drain fitting can be configured for any size or shape channel in a channel drain system.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the universal channel drain fitting generally comprises a base and a plurality of caps that are selected by an installer of a channel drain system to connect to a channel drain or other drain system part to achieve certain downstream flow control purposes for the fitting, such as connecting to a downstream channel drain or system part to controllably direct water or other liquids or to stop the flow of such liquids. The base comprises a base panel and a leg assembly, with the base panel having an upper surface and a lower surface and the leg assembly being attached to or integral with the base panel so as to extend upwardly from the upper surface of the base panel. The leg assembly has a plurality of upwardly extending leg members that are structured and arranged for each of the plurality of leg members to have at least two adjacent leg members so as to form a plurality of leg member pairs. The new universal channel drain fitting has one or more end caps, one or more side caps, a bottom cap and a top cap that each have a plate section and a component section. The plate section of each of the end caps are cooperatively structured and arranged with the leg assembly so as to be upwardly supported by one of the plurality of leg member pairs. The plate section of each of the side caps are also cooperatively structured and arranged with the leg assembly so as to be upwardly supported by one of the plurality of leg member pairs. The bottom cap is structured and arranged to be positioned against one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the base panel. The top cap is structured and arranged to be positioned in spaced apart relation above the base panel and engage at least one of the leg assembly, the one or more end caps and the one or more side caps. The base, the end caps, the side caps, the bottom cap and the top cap define an interior area of the universal channel drain fitting that will receive water or another liquid into the interior area thereof from a flow path through a channel drain so as to control the continued flow of the liquid to another channel drain and/or system part.
In one embodiment, each of the leg members have a slot associated therewith and each of the plate sections of the end caps and the side caps are cooperatively sized and arranged for the plate sections to slidably engage the slots of the leg members so as to upwardly support the end caps and the side caps on the base. The top member has a downwardly extending base mounting assembly attached to or integral with the plate section of the top member, with the base mounting assembly having a plurality of side members and lip members defining a plate edge area therebetween, the plate edge area sized and configured to receivably engage a top edge of each of the plate sections therein to hold each of the one or more end caps and the one or more side caps in place on the base. In a preferred embodiment, the base mounting assembly has a corner member that interconnects each of the side members and a top post area defined between each of the corner members and the plate lip. Each of the top post areas are sized and configured to engagedly receive a top post of the leg assembly so as to secure the top cap to the base.
In a preferred embodiment, the leg assembly further comprises a leg base interconnecting each of the leg members, with the leg base having an upwardly extending slot member at each of the leg members so that each of the leg members has a slot associated therewith that is sized and configured to slidably receive a portion of the plate sections of the end caps and the side caps. Preferably, the leg base has a slot therein that is sized and configured to receive a bottom edge of the plate sections of each of the end caps and each of the side caps. In this configuration, the slot member defines the slot associated with each of the leg members, with each of the slots of the leg members being sized and configured to slidably receive one of a first edge and a second edge of each of the plate sections of the end caps and the side caps. To better support the end caps and side caps, the slots associated with the leg members are connected to the slot of the leg base between each leg member pair to define a slot group that receives a plate section of one of the end caps or one of the side caps therein.
For a typical universal channel drain fitting, the one or more end caps comprise a first end cap and a second end cap, the one or more side caps comprises a first side cap and a second side cap, the leg assembly comprises a first leg member, a second leg member, a third leg member and a fourth leg member. The first leg member and the second leg member define a first leg member pair for supporting the first end cap, the second leg member and the third leg define a second leg member pair for supporting the second side cap, the third leg member and the fourth leg member define a third leg member pair for supporting the second end cap and the fourth leg member and the first leg member define a fourth leg member pair for supporting the first side cap.
In a preferred embodiment, the base panel of the new universal channel drain fitting has a panel opening that is disposed, generally centrally, through the base panel and the bottom cap has an opening engaging mechanism which is structured and arranged to engage the panel opening of the base panel to secure the bottom cap to the base of the universal channel drain fitting. Although the bottom cap can be secured to the panel opening from below the base panel or from above the base panel (e.g., from the interior area), in a preferred configuration the bottom cap is received from below to abut the lower surface of the base panel. In one embodiment, the opening engaging mechanism comprises a plurality of clip members that are each structured and arranged to be received in the panel opening to engage the panel opening and hold the bottom cap in place.
In a typical “standard” configuration, the component section of the first end cap is a coupler that can connect to an upstream positioned channel drain and the component section of the top cap is a grate to receive water or other liquid into the channel drain system through the new universal channel drain fitting. The component section of the end caps and the side caps can, as an example be a coupler, a solid plate, an adapter and the like. Although the component section of the top plate is typically a grate, the component section can also be a solid plate, an adapter or the like. Typically, the component section of the bottom cap is either a coupler, solid plate or bottom drain.
The detailed description set forth below provides a more detailed and specific description that will make reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and specific descriptions of the drawings included herewith, as well as any specific or alternative embodiments discussed, are intended to be read in conjunction with the entirety of this disclosure. As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art, the new universal channel drain fitting may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments which are set forth herein. Instead, the preferred embodiments set forth below are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and fully convey understanding to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art.
Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a new universal channel drain fitting having the various advantages set forth above and elsewhere in the present disclosure and which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations which are associated with presently available apparatuses and systems for connecting together components of a channel drain system.
It is an important object of the present invention to provide a new and improved universal channel drain fitting that is structured and arranged to be used in place of and instead of a number and wide variety of standard fittings when an installer is installing a channel drain system.
It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a new and improved universal channel drain fitting that can be easily adapted into one of a wide variety of different standard fittings for a channel drain system without the need for tools, adhesives or other materials.
An important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new universal channel drain fitting which accomplishes the objectives set forth above and elsewhere in the present disclosure.
Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new universal channel drain fitting which allows an installer of a channel drain system to easily, without tools, adhesives or the like, adapt the new universal channel drain fitting so that the same base fitting can be utilized as many different types of standard fittings, such as a tee, cross, elbow, coupling, end plug, end outlet adapter, bottom outlet discharge adapter and the like in a channel drain system.
Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new universal channel drain fitting which is structured and arranged to allow a channel drain installer to use the universal channel drain fitting in place of a wide variety of different standard fittings to more effectively and efficiently connect drain components together when he or she is installing a channel drainage system.
Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new universal channel drain fitting which generally comprises a base made up of a base panel with an opening centrally disposed on the panel and a leg assembly that is attached to or integral with the base panel so as to extend four leg members outwardly therefrom, a top grate, and a plurality of side, end and bottom caps that are slidably received in slots in the leg members, with each of the caps configured to function as one of a wide variety of different types of standard fittings.
Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a universal channel drain fitting which eliminates or at least substantially reduces the need for an installer of a channel drain system to have with him or her a generally large number and wide variety of different standard fittings when going to a location to install the channel drain system.
Yet another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides a new universal channel drain fitting which is manufactured of materials and in a manner that results in a relatively low cost universal channel drain fitting which can be utilized in a wide variety of channel drain systems.
As will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiments which follow, the above and other objects and aspects are accomplished or provided by the present invention. As set forth herein and will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims. The detailed description of the invention which follows is presented for purposes of illustrating one or more of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims which follow after the discussion.
In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures are illustrative of several potential preferred embodiments and, therefore, are included to represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and shown in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the description and figures included herewith generally describe and show particular materials, shapes and configurations for the various components of the universal channel drain fitting of the present invention, as well as examples of a channel drain with which the new fitting may be utilized, persons who are skilled in the relevant art will readily appreciate that the present invention is not so limited. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown and described herein with only those components that are required to disclose the present invention. As such, it may be possible that some of the necessary elements for attaching and/or using the present invention are not shown or necessarily described below, but which are well known to persons who are skilled in the relevant art. As will be readily appreciated by such persons, the various elements of the present invention that are described below may take on any form which is consistent with forms that may be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art having knowledge of standard channel drain fittings and the channel drains with which they may be utilized in a channel drain system.
A universal channel drain fitting that is configured pursuant to one or more of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is referred to generally as 10 in
As best shown in
When used with a channel drain system 11 the channel drain 12 having the grate 30 secured thereto is placed in the desired mounting media 42, which may be the ground, driveway, sidewalk or other surface, with the top surface 44 of media 42 (e.g., ground level) being in or near alignment with the upper surface 46 of the grate 30, as shown in
For purposes of describing the use and relative location of the various components of the present invention, the terms “upper”, “upward”, “upwardly”, “upper” and “top” and the like and the terms “lower”, “downward”, “downwardly” and “bottom” and the like refer to the direction of or toward, respectively, to the relative positions of the grate 30 mounted onto the upper ends 32 of the channel walls 24 of the channel drain 12 and the lower end 52 of the channel drain 52 in
As well known to persons who are skilled in the relevant art, the prior art fittings 14 are cooperatively dimensioned and configured with the size and shape of the channel walls 24 and U-shaped channel 26 of the channel drain 12 so the prior art fittings 14 will be securely held in place at an end 16/18 of the channel drain 12 by the grate 30 when the grate 30 is secured to the upper ends 32 of the channel walls 24. Specifically, the plate section 20 is cooperatively sized and configured such that the outer edges, referred to as first or right edge 58 and second or left edge 60, are generally aligned with, respectively, the first or right sidewall 24a and second or left sidewall 24b of the channel drain 12, as best shown in
The component section 22 of the prior art fittings 14 is attached to or integrally formed with the outwardly facing surface 70 of plate section 20, as best shown in
As well known to persons who are skilled in the relevant art, a wide range of different types of component sections 22, at the outwardly facing surface 70 of the plate section 20, can be utilized with prior art fittings 14. As examples,
As set forth in the Background, one issue for persons who install channel drain systems 11 is that must have with them numerous channel couplers and other prior art fittings 14 with different types of component sections 22, as well as a series of individual channel lengths and the appropriate grates. In order for the person (the installer) to efficiently connect sections of channel drains together and to connect to other system parts 13 of a channel drain system 11, the installer has to have all of the possible couplers and fitting with him or her. Failure to plan ahead and/or to anticipate the need for properly sized and configured prior art fittings 14, will require the installer to return to his or her shop or go to a store to obtain the necessary fittings 14 to finish installing the channel drain system 11. As set forth in the Summary and in more detail below, the universal channel drain fitting 10 of the present invention solves this problem by allowing an installer to easily have with him or her and to easily configure all of the different sizes fittings that will be needed to complete a channel drain system 11.
Examples of universal channel drain fittings 10 that are structured and arranged in accordance with one or more of the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in
In the preferred configurations, the universal fitting 10 of the present invention is sized and configured to be utilized with standard sized and configured channel drains 12 and other standard sized and configured system parts 13 that are utilized in a typical channel drain system 11. However, as will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, the universal fitting 10 can be easily modified so as to be utilized in a channel drain system 11 having non-standard sized and configured channel drains 10 and other drain system parts 13. As will also be readily appreciated by such persons, such ease of incorporating modifications is one of the primary benefits of the new universal fitting 10. As set forth above, the base 80 supports the end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92 to connect sections of channel drain 12 together and to connect a channel drain 12 to other system parts 13 of a channel drain system 11. To accomplish the objectives of the present invention, the base 80 has a substantially planar base panel 94 with a leg assembly 98 that is attached to or integral with the base panel 94 and configured to be generally positioned around the opening 96 in the base panel 94, as best shown in
As best shown in
As set forth above, the leg assembly 96 is structured and arranged to receive and support each of the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 between each leg member pair 106, comprising a leg member 100 and a second/adjacent leg member 104, wherein each leg member 100 is considered both a leg member 100 and a second/adjacent leg member 104 depending on the reference to the leg member 100. Each leg member 100 has a slot member 115 that define a pair of slots 116, each being at about a right angle to the other, that extend down from the upper end 112 of the leg member 100 to the lower end 110 thereof. As best shown in
As best shown in 11-15 and 23-47, each of the end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92 comprise a plate section 124 and a component section 126 that, as with plate section 20 and the component section 22 of the prior art fittings 14, allow the each of the end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92 to be associated with the base 80 and to provide the desired hydraulic functions for the universal fitting 10 of the present invention. Unlike the prior art fittings 14, however, the plate section 124 of the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 are securely engaged with, as opposed to being merely pressed against an end 16/18 of a drain channel 12, the leg assembly 98 of the base 80 to hold the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 in their respective positions on the base 80. In the preferred embodiment of the new universal fitting 10, the plate section 124 is sized and configured to be slidably received downward into the slots 116 of a leg member pair 106 and then into the slot 118 of the leg base 114 that define a single slot group 120 to hold the subject end caps 82/84 or side caps 86/88 in an upright position in the leg assembly 98 of the base 80, as shown in
To accomplish the above, the plate section 124 of the universal fitting 10 is dimensioned in corresponding relation with the leg assembly 98 so the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 can be slidably received by the leg assembly 98 to form the universal fitting 10. Specifically, as shown with regard to the embodiment of
As will be readily understood by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, when the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 are received in a slot group 120 (e.g., a pair of slots 116 and slot 118 therebetween), the lower area of plate section 124 of the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 are securely received in the slot 118 of the leg base 114. In another embodiment (not shown), the leg members 100 could be directly attached to or integral with the base panel 94 (e.g., no leg base 114 and no slot 118 in the leg base 114) such that the bottom edge 134 of the plate section 124 of the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 slide down the slots 116 in the leg members 100/104 and directly abut the upper surface 136 of the base panel 94 (instead of the bottom of slot 118 of leg base 114). However, it is believed that receiving the bottom edge 134 and lower area of the plate section 124 of the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 into the “groove” defined by the slot 118 in the leg base 114 more effectively holds the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 in place and better prevents or at least substantially reduces the likelihood of leakage of water or liquid through the universal fitting 10 when it is in use in a channel drain system 11 to move liquid away from a place where the liquid is not wanted. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the lower portion of the plate section 124 has curved transitions between the bottom edge 134 and the two side edges 128/130 that match the curved transition between the slots 118 of the leg base 114 and the slots 116 in the leg members 100, as best shown in
In addition to the upper surface 136, the base panel 94 has a lower surface 138 that is placed against the bottom surface of a trench or other area where the channel drains 12 and universal fittings 10 are placed below the top surface 44 of the media 42. If desired, the base panel may have one or more apertures 140 therethrough that can be utilized with connectors to securely attach the universal fitting 10 to the lower surface of the trench to help stabilize the channel drain system 11, much in the same manner as the apertures in the stabilizers 54 do for the channel drains 12.
As shown in
In the embodiment of the universal fitting 10 shown in
With regard to the embodiment of the new universal fitting 10 shown in
The embodiment of the new universal fitting 10 shown in
As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, the arrangement of the channel drain system 11 may prescribe a different type of component section 126 for the bottom cap 92 that is engaged with the opening 96 in the base panel 94. An example of an alternative component section 126 for the bottom cap 92, a solid plate 126b, is described below with regard to
An alternative configuration for the bottom cap 92 is shown in
The top cap 90 for the universal fitting 10 shown in the figures has a component section 126 that is configured as a grate 126d that is, from above at least, substantially the same as the grate 30 for the channel drain 12 having an upper surface 46 with a plurality of openings 48, as best shown in
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the base mounting assembly 162 of the top cap 90 comprises a support frame 164 and a peripherally disposed plate lip 166, as best shown in
Additional alternative configurations for the universal fitting 10 of the present invention are shown in
A channel drain system 11 which utilizes the new universal fitting 10 of the present invention, channel drains 12 and/or one or more system parts 13, such as pipes, other drains and the like, is summarized in
As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, the configurations of the above-described end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92 can be easily and quickly modified for any configuration of component section 126 that is required or desired by the installer of a channel drain system. In general, any type of component that is utilized or desired to be utilized in a channel drain system 11 can be incorporated into any one or more of the end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92. As such, the universal fitting 10 is not limited to any particular configuration or size of fitting. Specifically, the universal fitting 10 is not limited to the types of component sections 22 or 126 that are described above and/or shown in the figures. A person who is skilled in the relevant art that virtually any type of component 22/126 can be attached to or integrally formed with a plate section 124 and used for any of the end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92 of the universal fitting 10.
The new universal fitting 10 provides a single fitting that can be easily and quickly configured to achieve any of the desired functions for a channel drain system 11. In the preferred embodiments, the new universal fitting can be assembled very simply and quickly without the use of any tools, adhesives, welding or the like. Because of this, the installer just has to have a universal fitting kit, comprising the base 80 and a variety of different types of end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92, available to him or her. Having a universal fitting kit eliminates the need to have a multitude of prior art fittings 14 available to him or her to install a channel drain system 11.
The new universal fitting 10 also makes it much easier to modify an existing channel drain system 11 to add or modify or to branch off of a universal fitting 10 by allowing the user to just remove an existing plate section 124 and component section 126 combination of one or more of the end caps 82/84 and side caps 86/88 and replace it with a new end cap 82/84 and/or side cap 86/88 with, likely, a different plate section 124 and component section 126 combination in order to achieve a new configuration for the channel drain system 11.
In the preferred method of marketing the universal fitting 10, the components of this universal fitting 10 will be packed in a small kit box and have all the various end caps 82/84, side caps 86/88, top cap 90 and bottom cap 92 components to make any of the fittings that may be required to install a channel drain system 11. As will be readily understood by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, some of the fittings that can be assembled from such a kit include a coupler 126a, solid end plate 126b, a tee to join two perpendicular channel drains 12, an elbow to turn a ninety degree corner, a 4-way cross to connectedly join two perpendicular channel drains 12 and a forwardly disposed channel drain 12, a bottom drain 126d, with or without a leaf catcher, to connect to a discharge pipe from the bottom, and an end adapter 22c to connect to a discharge pipe and the like. In the preferred embodiments, the new universal fitting 10 is made from same materials as prior art channel drain fittings 14 and are at least strong enough for a person to stand on and for lawn equipment and the like to pass over.
While there are shown and described herein various specific forms of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships that may be set forth herein and to modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there may be numerous components of the embodiments described herein that can be readily replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives and obtain the desired aspects of the present invention. The various embodiments set forth herein are intended to explain the best mode of making and using the present invention as currently known to and appreciated by the present inventor(s) and to enable other persons who are skilled in the relevant art to make and utilize the present invention without any undue experimentation. Although, the described embodiments may comprise one or more different features, not all of these features are required in all embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, as will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, certain embodiments of the present invention only utilize some of the features and/or combinations of features disclosed herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4321713 | Thompson | Mar 1982 | A |
| 6027283 | Schweinberg | Feb 2000 | A |
| 20120110827 | Doolittle | May 2012 | A1 |
| Entry |
|---|
| NDS Product Catalog, catalog, 2021, p. Nos. 1 and 61, NDA, U.S. |
| TEMPO Spec Sheet: Square Catch Basins, Tempo Products, Inc., U.S. |
| NDS Technical Specifications, Next Generation Catch Basin, National Diversified Sales, Inc., U.S. |
| Stormdrain Plus Surface Water Drainage Solution, Stormdrain Plus Page, Internet, downloaed Mar. 12, 2023, U.S. |
