Modular slotted drain assembly

• US 7,264,418 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randall J. Houck
• Original Assignee: Randall J. Houck
• Inventors: Houck, Randall J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAGMAN, FREDERICK LYNDON
• Application Number:
  US11/543,686
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 405/36, 405 43- 50, 404/2, 404/4
• US Class Current: 405/43
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/227 Gutters; Channels E01C11/223 takes precedence; permanently installed flushing means E01H3/04; Roof drainage discharge ducts set in sidewalks
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 3/046 Open sewage channels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 Planning or developing urban green infrastructure

Abstract

A modular slotted drain assembly having a slotted drainpipe, one or more base drain members positioned in communication with the slot of the drainpipe, and one or more reducer drain members stacked atop the base drain members. The reducer drain members have non-parallel upper and lower edges, such that one end of a reducer drain member is taller than its other end. An assembly is created such that the slope of the upper edges of the reducer drain members is not parallel to the drainpipe axis, allowing the upper edges of the reducer drain members to correspond to the slope of the ground surface.

Claims

1. A modular slotted drain assembly comprising in combination:

at least one drainpipe having a longitudinal slot member and a longitudinal axis;

at least one base drain member communicating with said slot member, said at least one base drain member comprising side walls, spacer members connecting said side walls, and drainpipe seating means connecting said at least one base drain member to said at least one drainpipe;

at least one reducer drain member connected to said at least one base drain member in a stacked manner, said at least one reducer drain member comprising side walls, spacer members connecting said side walls, said side walls each having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first end and a second end, wherein said upper edges are non-parallel to said lower edges and said first ends are taller than said second ends.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a surface grate member connected to said at least one reducer drain member.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said drainpipe seating means comprises a seating flange disposed on each of said base drain member side walls.

4. The assembly of claim 3, said at least one base drain member further comprising insertion flanges, wherein said insertion flanges are disposed within said slot member.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising edge connection means connecting said at least one reducer drain member lower edges to said at least one base drain member.

6. The assembly of claim 5, said edge connection means comprising mating batten joints.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one drainpipe has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said upper edges of said at least one reducer member are non-parallel to said axis.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an aggregate retention member.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper edges of said at least one reducer member define a slope non-parallel to said drainpipe longitudinal axis.

10. A modular slotted drain assembly comprising in combination:

at least one drainpipe having a longitudinal slot member and a longitudinal axis;

base drain members communicating with said slot member, said base drain members aligned in an end-to-end manner, said base drain members each comprising side walls, spacer members connecting said side walls, and drainpipe seating means connecting said base drain members to said at least one drainpipe;

reducer drain members connected atop said base drain members in a stacked manner, said reducer drain members aligned in an end-to-end manner, said reducer drain members each comprising side walls, spacer members connecting said side walls, said side walls each having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first end and a second end, wherein said upper edges are non-parallel to said lower edges and said first ends are taller than said second ends.

11. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising a surface grate member connected atop said reducer drain members.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said drainpipe seating means comprises a seating flange disposed on each of said base drain member side walls.

13. The assembly of claim 12, said base drain members further comprising insertion flanges, wherein said insertion flanges are disposed within said slot member.

14. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising edge connection means connecting said reducer drain member lower edges to said base drain members.

15. The assembly of claim 14, said edge connection means comprising mating batten joints.

16. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said at least one drainpipe has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said upper edges of said reducer members are non-parallel to said axis.

17. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said reducer drain members are disposed in multiple layers atop said base drain members.

18. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said base drain members each further comprises a first end and second end, and wherein said reducer drain members overlap said first ends and said second ends of abutting said base drain members.

19. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said base drain members each further comprises a first end and second end, and wherein said first ends and second ends of said reducer drain members align with said first ends and said second ends of said base drain members.

20. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said reducer drain members have different reduction ratios.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein said reducer drain members have different heights.

22. The assembly of claim 10, wherein any of said reducer drain members are connectable to any of said base drain members.

23. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising an aggregate retention member.

24. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said upper edges of said at least one reducer member define a slope non-parallel to said drainpipe longitudinal axis.

25. A method of installing a modular slotted drain assembly providing a means to remove water from a ground surface having a defined surface slope, comprising the steps of:

positioning at least one drainpipe underground, said drainpipe having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal slot member oriented in an uppermost disposition, said drainpipe being inclined such that said longitudinal axis is non-horizontal to facilitate flow of water through said drainpipe;

connecting base drain members in fluid communicating manner to said slot member, said base drain members aligned in an end-to-end manner, said base drain members each comprising side walls, spacer members connecting said side walls, and drainpipe seating means connecting said base drain members to said at least one drainpipe;

connecting reducer drain members atop said base drain members in a stacked manner, said reducer drain members aligned in an end-to-end manner, said reducer drain members each comprising side walls, spacer members connecting said side walls, said side walls each having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first end and a second end, wherein said upper edges are non-parallel to said lower edges and said first ends are taller than said second ends;

wherein said reducer drain members are selected such that after connection to said base drain members the upper edges of said reducer drain members are non-parallel to said longitudinal axis of said at least one drainpipe.

26. The method of claim 25, further wherein said reducer drain members are selected such that after connection to said base drain members the upper edges of said reducer drain members are parallel to said defined surface slope of said ground surface.

27. The method of claim 26, further wherein said reducer drain members are selected such that after connection to said base drain members the upper edges of said reducer drain members are even with said defined surface slope of said ground surface.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising stacking reducer drain members atop other reducer drain members to define multiple rows of reducer drain members.