TRENCH DRAIN SYSTEM

Abstract

A method of forming a trench drain including a step of positioning a plurality of form members including a first form member and a second form member, each having at least one set of openings arranged in a generally vertical manner. The sets of openings include a first opening, a second opening and a third opening. There is a vertical distance from the first opening to the second opening that is substantially equal to a vertical distance from the second opening to the third opening. The first form member is substantially parallel with the second form member. The set of openings of the first member are aligned with the set of openings of the second form member. An opening in the first form member and a corresponding opening in the second form member are selected dependent upon a predetermined slope for the trench drain thereby defining a selected opening in each of the first and second form members. The first form member is connected with the second form member by way of a cross member. The cross member has a first end associated with the selected openings.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a forming system for use with concrete, and, more particularly, to a trench drain forming system for use with concrete.

2. Description of the Related Art

Trench drains are known and are generally used in situations requiring a large extensive drainage system of an area subject to heavy amounts of fluid run off, such as exterior portions of buildings, building perimeters, paved areas such as parking lots and roadways. Generally a trench drain is covered with a grating system allowing liquid to enter thereby and to drain therethrough into a larger drainage system such as a sewer or ditch. Additionally, the liquid may be stored in a tank or holding pool for later processing.

A modular trench system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,225,545 that includes a V-shaped conduit with male and female formations at opposite ends with an integral flange for the support of a grating.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,165 discloses a modular end trench drain system having channels, grate frames, anchors, spacer bars and grating. The channel is vacuum formed from a fiberglass mat impregnated with resins. The bottom of the trough has a pair of upwardly extending diverging side walls.

What is needed in the art is an easy effective way of building an inclined drainage system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a trench drainage system that easily controls the inclination of the drain formed by concrete within the form system.

The invention in one form is directed to a method of forming a trench drain including the steps of positioning a plurality of form members, aligning at least one set of openings, selecting a set of openings and connecting the form members to cross members. The positioning step includes positioning a plurality of form members including a first form member and a second form member, each of the plurality of form members having at least one set of openings arranged in a generally vertical manner. The sets of openings include a first opening, a second opening and a third opening. There is a vertical distance from the first opening to the second opening that is substantially equal to a vertical distance from the second opening to the third opening. The first form member is substantially parallel with the second form member. The aligning step includes aligning the at least one set of openings of the first member with the at least one set of openings of the second form member. The selecting step includes selecting one of the openings in the first form member and a corresponding one of the openings in the second form member dependent upon a predetermined slope for the trench drain thereby defining a selected opening in each of the first and second form members. The connecting step includes connecting the first form member with the second form member by way of a cross member. The cross member has a first end associated with the first selected opening in the first form member and a second end associated with the selected opening in the second form member.

An advantage of the present invention is that the slope of the concrete that is poured within the form members is determined by the positioning of the cross members.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the openings along the form members have pre-selected vertical positions allowing for the ease of installation as well as rapidly laying out the inclination of the trench drain.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the forming members are very modularized and can be interconnected allowing several heights of forming members to be utilized in the trench drain system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of a trench drain system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a form member used in the trench drain system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the form member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another end view of the form member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the trench drain system of FIG. 1 utilizing form members of FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 6 is another sectioned perspective view of the trench forming system of FIGS. 1-5 having concrete poured within;

FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of a form member of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view utilizing several form members of FIGS. 1-7.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a trench form system 10 that is installed in conjunction with a floor 12. Typically a trench form system 10 is positioned with a top edge that is substantially coplanar with the surface of floor 12. Once trench form system 10 is in place, concrete is poured to form floor 12. After floor 12 has hardened then typically concrete is then poured into trench form system 10 so as to result in inclined trench 14 to thereby direct the flow of a fluid in the trench drain.

Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 2-8, there are shown additional details of trench form system 10 including form members 16, also known as wall panels 16, and cross members 18. Wall panels 16 each include a series of predefined slots or openings 20 positioned at spaced locations along a portion of wall panel 16. Slots 20 may be grouped in slot subsets that are offset by a measured predetermined distance. For example, a set of slots may include four slots each a quarter inch lower than the previous slot and then the slot sets repeat being horizontally offset so that each slot can be easily selected based on its slot subset and then the relative slot within the slot subset. The slots subsets of a slot set 20, may appear as in FIG. 7, which has repeating sets of seven slots that are positioned so that the bottom of the lowest end slot is the same vertical distance from the highest slot in the next set as there is between each of the individual slots of the first set. Although there is somewhat of a horizontal offset it is not significant when dealing with the draining of fluids along a predetermined inclined trench. The selection of a slot on each side of the connection of a cross member 18 is thereby easily determined as being a certain slot of a certain slot subset. In the direction 30 in which the fluid is to flow the next lower slot may be selected for the next cross member 18 to thereby determine the slope of the overall drain. For example, if the distance 34 between the two substantially vertical sets of slots in any form member 16 are two feet apart then if the slots are positioned to be each a quarter inch different in height then the selection of the next lower slot in the separated sets of slots equates to a one-eight inch per foot slope in the finished trench. A different slope can be selected by the selection of the slots that correspond to the desired slope.

Cross members 18 include gauging protrusions 22 that interact with slot 20 of a form member 16 and with another corresponding slot 20 on an opposite side of cross member 18 of a second form member 16. This defines a predetermined space between the two form members 16. The length of a cross member 18 is selected to define the width of inclined trench 14. The top edge of cross members 18 may be flat, curved or angled to assist in the forming of a shaped inclined trench 14 by the concrete worker that utilizes the top edge of cross member 18 to predefine the slope and perhaps even the shape of inclined trench 14. As previously mentioned, cross members 18 are selectively positioned in a slot 20 that corresponds to another slot 20 on another form member 16 and the next cross member 18 may be positioned in a slot 20 that is one increment lower than an adjoining cross member 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the rightmost cross member 18 is positioned at a higher point than the leftmost cross member 18. When concrete or other aggregate or forming material is poured into trench form system 10 to form incline trench 14 it is leveled proximate to the top edges of these pre-positioned cross members 18 to thereby form the grade for incline trench 14. While the top portions of cross members 18 are shown in FIG. 6, the people forming the inclined trench may utilize the top edges of cross members 18 as a guide and actually have the top edges embedded slightly underneath the surface of trench drain 14. This advantageously allows cross members 18 to serve the purpose of pre-positioning the wall panel and providing structural strength to trench forming system 10 and to predefine the grade based upon the positioning of the cross members 18 along multiple form members 16.

The ends of form members 16 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 where a ledge 24 can be seen upon the top portion of form member 16 allowing the vertical stacking of several form members 16. Ledges 24 additionally allow positioning of grates in the finished trench floor system along the top surface of floor 12. Engaging protrusions 26 extend out to engage receiving slots 28 of an adjoining form member 16. This allows for an easy positioning and construction of trench form system 10. The inclined trench 14 fines the flow 30 of fluid within trench form system 10. Although trench form system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as trenches form members 16 it can also be utilized to form larger areas such as holding areas by simply positioning form member 16 in a desired construct to form a larger holding area or drainage catch basin.

When utilizing cross members 18 engaging protrusions 22 may be such that they are slid through slots 20 then cross member 18 is then repositioned to lock cross member 18 together with to form members 16. Although only one cross member 18 is shown with each vertical set of slots 20, it is also contemplated to use additional cross members 18 at different vertical levels so as to provide structural rigidity to trench form system 10. In this way when concrete is poured in to form incline trench 14, cross members 18 may be completely immersed in the concrete with only the top sets of cross members 18 being positioned to define the inclined portion of trench 14. The positioning of cross members 18 substantially below the finish grade of trench 14 is a matter of preference within the normal techniques of those engaged in setting up forms for the pouring and finishing of concrete.

Slots 20 may be arrange along portions of form member 16 such that when form members 16 are assembled end to end that the location of slots 20 in multiple form members 16 can correspond to provide the linear grading of inclined trench 14. Trench form system 10 advantageously allows for the flow of liquid along path 30 as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 1. The mirror image of the patterns of slots 20 as shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 allow for the correspondence of slots in form members 16 that are parallel but are reversed to allow the proper positioning of ledge 24 along floor 12 and the alignment of the slots so that cross members 18 are properly positioned so that they are substantially perpendicular to form members 16. In FIG. 5 slots 20 are not in a mirror relationship to illustrate that this pattern is also contemplated.

Distance 32 as illustrated in FIG. 8 and corresponds generally to a vertical set of slots 20 from an end of form member 16. Distance 34 corresponds to the distance between vertical sections of slots 20 within form member 16. Distance 36 corresponds to the distance from another end of form member 16 and a set of generally vertical slots 20. Distance 34 is selected so that the distance 32 plus 36 equals 34 so that the horizontal interlinking of form members 16 provides for the same linear selection of a grade in inclined trench 14 along the entire distance of multiple form members 16. As shown in FIG. 8, multiple form members 16 may be stacked to thereby allow the selection of an inclined trench 14 over a considerable distance. Form members 38 are shortened versions to allow for the necessary accommodation for corners and interconnection of form members 16. Further, form member 16 may be cut to provide customizable lengths of inclined trench 14. Temporary braces may be utilized along the top edge of form member 16, particularly when floor 12 is being poured. Shortened form members 38 also include protrusions and slots to cooperatively interact with ends of form member 16.

Form members are generally positioned in a parallel fashion and the slots or openings therein are aligned so that they can be easily selected and interconnected with cross members. The cross members although illustrated as having protrusions that interact with slots, there may also be other connecting features that interconnect the forming members with the cross members.

The materials utilized to make form members 16 and cross members 18 can be metals or plastics or any material that can be utilized to easily form cross members 18 and form members 16 as described herein. Ledge 24 of form members 16 may be preformed to allow for the positioning of grating, not shown, thereon so as to provide a surface that can be walked on, across, and above inclined trench 14.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of forming a trench drain, comprising the steps of:

positioning a plurality of form members including a first form member and a second form member, each of said plurality of form members having at least one set of openings arranged in a generally vertical manner, said at least one set of openings including a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, a vertical distance from said first opening to said second opening being substantially equal to a vertical distance from said second opening to said third opening, said first form member being substantially parallel with said second form member;

aligning said at least one set of openings of said first form member with said at least one set of openings of said second form member;

selecting one of said openings in said first form member and a corresponding one of said openings on said second form member dependent upon a predetermined slope for the trench drain thereby defining a selected opening in each of said first form member and said second form member; and

connecting said first form member with said second form member with a cross member, said cross member having a first end associated with said selected opening in said first form member and a second end associated with said selected opening in said second form member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of openings are a plurality of slots.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said cross member includes a protrusion on each end, said protrusions each extending through a corresponding selected opening.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one set of openings includes a first set of slots grouped in a substantially vertical manner and a second set of slots grouped in a substantially vertical manner, said first set of slots positioned a predetermined distance from said second set of slots.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said plurality of form members each have a length, said predetermined distance being approximately one half of said length.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each set of slots include subsets of a predefined number of said slots.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of said slots in each subset of slots is spaced horizontally and vertically predetermined distances from each other.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of said subset of slots of each said set of slots form a repeating pattern repeated in a vertical manner.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said first set of slots is substantially a mirror image of said second set of slots.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of form members include a ledge along a top portion thereof.

11. A trench drain form system, comprising:

a plurality of form members including a first form member and a second form member, each of said plurality of form members having at least one set of openings arranged in a generally vertical manner, said at least one set of openings including a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, a vertical distance from said first opening to said second opening being substantially equal to a vertical distance from said second opening to said third opening, said first form member being positioned substantially parallel with said second form member, said at least one set of openings of said first form member are aligned with said at least one set of openings of said second form member, one of said openings in said first form member and a corresponding one of said openings in said second form member are selected dependent upon a predetermined slope for a trench drain thereby defining a selected opening in each of said first form member and said second form member; and

a plurality of cross members that connect said first form member with said second form member, a corresponding one of said plurality of cross members having a first end associated with said selected opening in said first form member and a second end associated with said selected opening in said second form member.

12. The trench drain form system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of openings are a plurality of slots.

13. The trench drain form system of claim 12, wherein each said cross member includes a protrusion on each end, said protrusions each extending through a corresponding selected opening in one of said plurality of form members.

14. The trench drain form system of claim 13, wherein said at least one set of openings includes a first set of slots grouped in a substantially vertical manner and a second set of slots grouped in a substantially vertical manner, said first set of slots positioned a predetermined distance from said second set of slots.

15. The trench drain form system of claim 14, wherein said plurality of form members each have a length, said predetermined distance being approximately one half of said length.

16. The trench drain form system of claim 15, wherein each set of slots include subsets of a predefined number of said slots.

17. The trench drain form system of claim 16, wherein each of said slots in each subset of slots is spaced horizontally and vertically predetermined distances from each other.

18. The trench drain form system of claim 17, wherein each of said subset of slots of each said set of slots form a repeating pattern repeated in a vertical manner.

19. The trench drain form system of claim 14, wherein said first set of slots is substantially a mirror image of said second set of slots.

20. The trench drain form system of claim 19, wherein said plurality of form members include a ledge along a top portion thereof.