Abstract: A debris trap for a floor drain includes a rim defining an outer diameter, an inner diameter, a center, and a rim portion extending upwardly from an upper surface portion of the rim at or near the outer diameter. Prongs are integrally formed with the rim and spaced along at least part of the inner diameter. Each prong has a proximal portion extending radially inward from the rim, a free distal end that is only upwardly curved from the proximal portion toward the center, and a width that varies along a length of the prong.

Abstract: A floor drain system includes a generally rectangular drain grate having a plurality of drain apertures, and a drain body, having a circular lower portion defining an outlet and configured to mate with an underdrain structure, and an upper portion defining an inlet configured to receive the drain grate in a frictional fit. The drain body includes an integral grout rim surrounding the inlet, having a knife-tapered top edge, configured to reduce the visibility of the grout rim between the surrounding material and the grate. The drain body further includes an undercut rim around an outer perimeter of the inlet, the undercut rim having a bottom surface angled upward toward the drain body. The drain body can also include dovetail-shaped buttresses extending outward from the drain body, having tapered surfaces angled toward the drain body, thereby to mechanically interlock the drain body with hardened grout therearound.

Abstract: A debris trap for a drain includes an annular rim, defining a center, with a plurality of radial prongs, extending from the rim toward the center, and oriented to catch debris in the drainage pathway. The debris trap is removably disposable within a drainage pathway of a drain body, below a removable drain grate thereof.

Abstract: A linear drain assembly includes a drain body with a drain channel extending along the drain body and an outlet structure intercepting the drain channel. The drain body has a constant outer profile along a longitudinal length of the drain body between at least one end of the drain channel and the outlet structure and the drain channel has a sloped bottom surface.

Abstract: A debris trap for a drain includes an annular rim, defining a center, with a plurality of radial prongs, extending from the rim toward the center, and oriented to catch debris in the drainage pathway. The debris trap is removably disposable within a drainage pathway of a drain body, below a removable drain grate thereof.

Abstract: A floor drain system includes a tray having a well, a riser installable in the tray, and a plurality of beads fixable within the well and outside the riser. The tray includes a perimeter flange attachable to a subfloor, and the well extends downwardly from the perimeter flange. A hollow stem extends downwardly from the well and is connectable to a drain pipe. The riser is installable at a selectable elevation within the stem of the tray, and has an interior drainage pathway orientable toward the drain pipe. The riser defines a seepage pathway outside of the riser and within the stem. The plurality of beads, when fixed together, form a permeable drain field bonded to both the riser and the tray, whereby liquid can pass through the drain field to the seepage pathway.

Abstract: A floor drain system includes a generally rectangular drain grate having a plurality of drain apertures, and a drain body, having a circular lower portion defining an outlet and configured to mate with an underdrain structure, and an upper portion defining an inlet configured to receive the drain grate in a frictional fit. The drain body includes an integral grout rim surrounding the inlet, having a knife-tapered top edge, configured to reduce the visibility of the grout rim between the surrounding material and the grate. The drain body further includes an undercut rim around an outer perimeter of the inlet, the undercut rim having a bottom surface angled upward toward the drain body. The drain body can also include dovetail-shaped buttresses extending outward from the drain body, having tapered surfaces angled toward the drain body, thereby to mechanically interlock the drain body with hardened grout therearound.

Abstract: A modular trowel handle device comprises a handle section to provide a handle interface for a user of the trowel handle and a post extending from the handle section. A mounting surface is coupled to the post and extends generally parallel to the handle section. The mounting surface includes a plurality of fasteners extending therefrom or formed therein. A trowel blade receiving plate includes engaging structure configured to engage a connector of a trowel blade and a plurality of corresponding fasteners extending therefrom or formed therein. The trowel blade receiving plate is coupled to the mounting surface by the fasteners and is formed from a different material than the mounting surface.

Abstract: A floor drain system includes a generally rectangular drain grate having a plurality of drain apertures, and a drain body, having a circular lower portion defining an outlet and configured to mate with an underdrain structure, and an upper portion defining an inlet configured to receive the drain grate in a frictional fit. The drain body includes an integral grout rim surrounding the inlet, having a knife-tapered top edge, configured to reduce the visibility of the grout rim between the surrounding material and the grate.

Abstract: A trowel device for use by an operator in an upright position comprises a trowel blade receiving assembly and a first elongate handle section, operably coupled to and extending away from the blade receiving assembly toward a proximal end of the device. A second elongate handle section is rotatably fixable with respect to the first elongate handle section and extends away from the blade receiving assembly toward the proximal end of the device. The first handle section is rotatable with respect to the second handle section about a longitudinal axis common to each of the handle sections to allow the operator to adjust an angle of a trowel blade of the trowel blade receiving assembly while the operator is an upright position.

Abstract: A corner brace configured to support a tile-bearing panel includes a pair of transverse brackets, disposed at a transverse angle to one another and being configured to be disposed in a corner between the tile-bearing panel and another panel or a support surface. At least one of the brackets has at least two ribs, each of which extends from an inner base to an enlarged outer head. The at least two ribs form at least one mortar receiving channel therebetween which has an enlarged chamber and a narrower opening with respect to the enlarged chamber. The mortar receiving channel is configured to at least partially interlock with mortar applied between the panel and the bracket to aid in securing the panel to the corner brace and thus to the other panel or support surface.

Abstract: A trowel blade includes a pre-finished, hardened and tempered blade having at least two apertures formed therethrough. Each aperture has a cross section tapering from a larger opening in a bottom of the blade to a smaller opening in a top of the blade. At least two cleats are also provided, each cleat being disposed in one of the apertures and each cleat having a lower portion, deformed within the aperture to have a frusto-conical shape mating with internal walls of the aperture. Each cleat also has an upper, inverted frusto-conical portion having a lower surface mating with an upper surface of the blade, and an upper shoulder. The upper shoulder of the upper portion extends upwardly from the lower surface of the upper portion and outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the cleat. The cleats are formed of an integral, rigid material and are collectively configured to provide a substantially rigid interface between the pre-finished blade and a removable handle of the pre-finished blade.

Abstract: A floor drain includes a drain body, having a generally rectangular upper portion defining an inlet and a circular lower portion defining an outlet, a generally rectangular drain grate inserted into the inlet of the drain body, and a grout rim, supported by the drain body and surrounding the drain grate.

Abstract: A trowel handle having a blade, one or more upright supports mounted on that blade and a handle adapted for detachably engaging that support is disclosed. The handle includes a channel having tapered sidewalls configured to form a wedge-like engagement with a respective support, thereby precluding the handle's displacement relative to the blade absent the imposition of a force of considerable magnitude directed in a preselected direction.

Abstract: A trowel handle having a blade, one or more upright supports mounted on that blade and a handle adapted for detachably engaging that support is disclosed. The handle includes a channel having tapered sidewalls configured to form a wedge-like engagement with a respective support, thereby precluding the handle's displacement relative to the blade absent the imposition of a force of considerable magnitude directed in a preselected direction.