DRAIN CHANNEL AND INLAY ASSEMBLY

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

One or more example embodiments are directed to a drain channel and inlay assembly. One embodiment comprises a drain channel inlay sub-assembly.

BACKGROUND

In conventional drain channel assemblies there are various kits each including a lineal drain channel, and an upper tray designed for tile or stone inlays. The upper tray typically sits upon an underlying support bracket which bridges the lineal drain channel. Although aesthetically appealing, these existing drain channel assemblies of this construct suffer from at least the following shortcomings:

• • 1. the drain channel assembly is awkward to assemble and is ineffective in anchoring of its various components to the associated drain channel;
  • 2. the drain assembly limits flow to the associated drain channel with the tray and support brackets or other components obstructing or diverting flow.

ASPECTS OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

According to one example embodiment, there is provided a drain channel and inlay assembly comprising:

• • one or more elongate trays adapted to receive at least one surface inlay;
  • a perimeter frame mounted to a drain channel;
  • one or more retention clips connected to corresponding of the elongate trays, said clips configured for releasable clipping of the corresponding trays to the perimeter frame for anchorage of said trays to the drain channel via the perimeter frame.

According to another example embodiment, there is provided a drain channel inlay sub-assembly comprising;

• • one or more elongate trays adapted to receive at least one surface inlay;
  • a perimeter frame;
  • one or more retention clips connected to corresponding of the elongate trays, said clips configured for releasable clipping of the corresponding trays to the perimeter frame.

In an embodiment, the perimeter frame includes a pair of opposing edge rails mounted to respective of a pair of opposing landings of the drain channel. In an embodiment, the edge rails are each mechanically fastened to respective of the pair of landings.

In an embodiment, the perimeter frame includes a pair of opposing boundary walls connected to and extending upward of respective of the pair of opposing edge rails. In an embodiment, the opposing boundary walls in conjunction with respective of opposing side walls of the elongate trays define a vertical drainage passage in liquid communication with the drain channel. In an embodiment, the retention clips each locate beneath a floor of corresponding of the trays, said clips vertically separating the floor of the tray from the edge rail of the perimeter frame thereby defining a horizontal drainage passage formed continuous with the vertical drainage passage.

In an embodiment, the perimeter frame includes a pair of opposing end walls each interconnecting opposing ends of the opposing boundary walls. In an embodiment, the perimeter frame includes one or more intermediate walls interconnecting the pair of opposing boundary walls intermediate the end walls. In an embodiment, each of the intermediate walls separate neighbouring of the elongate trays and is effective in stiffening of the opposing boundary walls.

In an embodiment, each of the retention clips includes a bridge support extending across the floor of the corresponding tray, and a pair of arms connected to and extending upward from respective of opposing ends of the bridge support. In an embodiment, the arms of the releasable clips each include a barb configured for releasable engagement with an aperture in the side wall of the tray for detachable connection of the clip to said tray.

In an embodiment, each of the retention clips includes a pair of legs connected to and extending downward from the bridge support, said legs configured for releasable clipping of said clip and the associated tray to the perimeter frame. In an embodiment, each of the legs includes an outwardly-directed finger configured to releasably engage a corresponding rebate in the edge rail of the perimeter frame. In an embodiment, the legs cooperate with the corresponding rebates in the edge rails to limit sliding movement of the associated tray relative to the perimeter frame and drain channel. In an embodiment, the fingers of the retention legs are configured to cooperate with the corresponding rebates to anchor said tray to the drain channel whilst permitting lifting and release of said retention clips and the associated tray under a predetermined upward force.

In an embodiment, the drain channel and inlay assembly comprises two of the elongate trays being of substantially the same construction as one another. In an embodiment, the two elongate trays are releasably clipped to the perimeter frame in line with one another separated by one of the intermediate walls of the perimeter frame. In an embodiment, the two elongate trays are enclosed at opposing ends via corresponding of the opposing end walls of the perimeter frame thereby defining an end drainage passage associated with the vertical drainage passages and in liquid communication with the drain channel.

In an embodiment, the retention clips comprise, or may consist of, two end clips and an intermediate clip being of substantially the same construction as one another. In an embodiment, the two end clips releasably engage the corresponding rebates in the edge rail for retention under both sliding and lifting actions whereas the intermediate clip cooperates with the corresponding rebates for retention under a sliding action only.

In an embodiment, the trays each include one or more weep holes at least in part located in the floor of said tray. In an embodiment, the weep holes are formed as slots in a junction of the floor with an adjoining side wall of the tray.

In an embodiment, the trays and perimeter frame are constructed or fabricated in metal, typically stainless steel. In an embodiment, the retention clips are formed in plastics being resiliently flexible to assist in their clipping action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of one or more embodiments, one example embodiment of a drain channel and inlay assembly as well as a drain channel inlay sub-assembly will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of an embodiment of both a drain channel and inlay assembly, and a drain channel inlay sub-assembly shown in-situ.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of one of the retention clips of the embodiment of the preceding Figures and shown in its releasable clipping arrangement with the associated elongate tray and perimeter frame.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one of the retention clips of an embodiment removed from the preceding Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, there is an embodiment of a drain channel and inlay assembly designated generally at 10. In this installation, the drain channel and inlay assembly 10 is set in a concrete footing 2 surrounded by soil 4 upon which a compacted bedding layer 6 resides. In this example, a ground surface level finish depicted generally at 8 is laid across the compacting bedding layer 6 and borders the drain channel and inlay assembly 10. It is to be understood that the drain channel and inlay assembly 10 is suitable for other installations including but not limited to stoned, tiled, paved, wood, vinyl, pebbles, stone, or other surface finishes or materials typically suited to pedestrian or vehicle traffic either indoors or outdoors.

In this embodiment, the drain channel and inlay assembly 10 may comprise:

• • 1. two (2) elongate trays 12a and 12b;
  • 2. a perimeter frame 14 mounted to a drain channel 16; and
  • 3. a plurality of retention clips such as 18aa, 18ab, 18ac and 18ba, 18bb, 18bc connected to corresponding of the elongate trays 12a and 12b, said clips such as 18aa and 18ba configured for releasable clipping of the corresponding trays 12a and 12b to the perimeter frame 14 for anchorage of the trays 12a/b to the drain channel 16 via the perimeter frame 14.

In this installation each of the trays such as 12a is adapted to receive a surface inlay in the form of a pair of neighbouring inlay elements 9aa and 9ab.

In this embodiment, the perimeter frame 14 includes a pair of opposing edge rails 20a and 20b mounted to respective of a pair of opposing landings 22a and 22b of the drain channel 16. In this example, the edge rails 20a/b are mechanically fastened to respective of the landings 22a/b via a plurality of fasteners in the form of bolt, nut and washer arrangements such as 24aa and 24ba. The perimeter frame 14 also includes a pair of opposing boundary walls 26a and 26b connected to and extending upward of respective of the pair of opposing rails 20a and 20b. The opposing boundary walls 26a and 26b are interconnected at opposing ends via opposing end walls 28 and 30. The perimeter frame 14 of this example also includes an intermediate wall 32 interconnecting the pair of opposing boundary walls 26a/b intermediate the end walls 28/30. In this installation the intermediate wall 32 separates the neighbouring elongate trays 12a/b and is effective in stiffening of the opposing boundary walls 26a/b.

As best seen in the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, the retention clips such as 18ac of this embodiment each include a bridge support 34ac extending across a floor 36a of the corresponding tray 12a. The retention clip such as 18ac also includes a pair of arms 38ac and 40ac connected to and extending upward from respective of opposing ends of the bridge support 34ac. In this example, the arms 38ac and 40ac each include respective barbs 42ac and 44ac configured for releasable engagement with corresponding apertures such as 46ac in respective of opposing side walls 50aa and 50ab of the tray 12a. The arms 38ac and 40ac together with the associated barbs 42ac and 44ac thus provide detachable connection of the retention clip such as 18ac to the tray 12a.

In this embodiment, each of the retention clips such as 18ac includes a pair of legs such as 54ac and 56ac connected to and extending downward from the bridge support 34ac. Each of the legs such as 54ac includes an outwardly-directed finger 58ac configured to releasable engage a corresponding rebate 62a in the edge rail 20a of the perimeter frame 14. The rebate such as 62a is formed in the edge rail 20a via a downwardly and outwardly turned lip 64a configured for releasable engagement with the finger 58ac of the retention leg 54ac. It will be understood that this arrangement provides releasable clipping of the retention clips such as 18ac and the associated tray 12a to the perimeter frame 14 wherein:

• • 1. the legs such as 54ac of the retention clip 18ac cooperate with the corresponding rebate 62a in the edge rail 20a to limit sliding movement of the associated tray 12a relative to the perimeter frame 14 and drain channel 16;
  • 2. the fingers such as 58ac of the retention legs 54ac cooperate with the corresponding rebate 62a and more particularly the downward and outwardly directed lip 64a to anchor the tray 12a to the drain channel 16 whilst permitting lifting and release of the fingers such as 58ac of the retention legs 54ac of the retention clips 18ac and the associated tray 12a under a predetermine upward force.

Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the opposing boundary walls 26a and 26b in conjunction with respective of the opposing side walls such as 50aa and 50ab of the tray 12a define a vertical drainage passage 66aa and 66ab in liquid communication with the drain channel 16. It will be understood that the retention clips such as 18ac vertically separate the floor 36a of the corresponding tray 12a from the edge rail 20a of the perimeter frame 14 thereby defining a horizontal drainage passage such as 68aa formed continuous with the vertical drainage passage 66aa. This combination of drainage passages such as 66aa and 68aa ensures water or other liquid flows from the surface directly to the drain channel 16 without diverting underneath neighbouring ground surface level finishes 8 or underlying soil 4 or compacted bedding 6.

In this embodiment, the drain channel and inlay assembly 10 comprises the two elongate trays 12a and 12b being of substantially the same construction as one another. It will be understood from the preceding description that the trays 12a/b are releasably clipped inside the perimeter frame 14 inline with one another and separated by the intermediate wall 32 of the perimeter frame 14. When assembled, the two elongate trays 12a/b are effectively enclosed at opposing ends via corresponding of the end walls 28 and 30 of the perimeter frame 14. This arrangement forms an end drainage passage such as 70a associated with the vertical drainage passages 66aa/ab, and in liquid communication with the drain channel 16. The trays such as 12a of this example include one or more weep holes as 74a formed as slots in a junction of the floor 36a with the adjoining side wall 50aa.

In this embodiment, it is to be understood that the retention clips comprise, or may consist of, two end clips such as 18aa and 18ac and an intermediate clip 18ab dedicated to the same tray 12a and being of substantially the same construction as one another. Having said that, the two end clips 18aa/ac releasably engage the edge rail 20a and 20b for retention under both sliding and lifting action whereas the intermediary clip 18ab cooperates with the corresponding rebates such as 62a in the rail 20a for retention under sliding action only.

In this embodiment, the trays 12a and 12b together with the perimeter frame 14 are constructed or fabricated in metal, typically stainless steel. These components may alternatively be fabricated from galvanised or zinc-coated steel or iron which is understood to provide corrosion resistance. The retention clips are formed in plastics being resiliently flexible to assist in their clipping action. The clips may be moulded from a thermoplastic such as ABS, a polyamide such as polyamide 6 (PA6) also known as nylon 6, or alternative moulding materials. Materials which are particularly suited to installation where the drain channel and inlay assembly will be exposed to relatively high compressive forces under motor vehicle traffic are preferred.

In another aspect of one example embodiment, there is a drain channel inlay sub-assembly which in this embodiment is substantially the same construction as the aforementioned first aspect of an embodiment but without the drain channel 16. This embodiment of the second aspect is thus directed to a drain channel inlay sub-assembly broadly comprising:

• • 1. one or more elongate trays such as 12a and 12b adapted to receive at least one surface inlay such as neighbouring inlay elements 9aa and 9ab;
  • 2. a perimeter frame 14; and
  • 3. one or more retention clips such as 18aa to 18ac and 18ba to 18bc connected to corresponding of the elongate trays 12a and 12b, said clips 18aa to 18ac and 18ba to 18bc configured for releasable clipping of the corresponding trays 12a and 12b to the perimeter frame.

Now that one example embodiment, incorporating a first aspect and a second aspect as disclosed herein, has been described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the drain channel and inlay assembly as well as the drain channel inlay sub-assembly may have at least the following advantages:

• • 1. the assembly and sub-assembly provide effective anchorage of the elongate trays and their associated surface inlays;
  • 2. the assembly when installed is effective in enabling drainage directly to the associated drain channel;
  • 3. the assembly and sub-assembly are robust in construction permitting relatively high compression loads when required, for example under vehicle traffic conditions;
  • 4. the assembly and sub-assembly are of a module construction and relatively quick and easy to install.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments disclosed herein are susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the perimeter frame may be limited to the edge rails which enable releasable clipping of the trays via the retention clips. The retention clips may vary in their construction provided they are effective in coupling the trays to the drain channel. The trays may be designed for surface inlays which include single or multiple pavers or tiles laid in line with one another within each of the trays.

All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of this disclosure the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.