Adjustable Roof Drain

Abstract

An adjustable roof drain for flat and low pitch roofs includes a basin portion and a telescoping basin extension portion. A compression gasket provides a seal between the basin portion and the telescoping basin extension portions of the roof drain. The shape of the compression gasket causes it to be pushed inwardly when compressed so that it seals against the telescoping extension portion to both seal the extension portion and lock it at a selected height.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/684,376, filed Jun. 13, 2018 and entitled “Adjustable Roof Drain”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This invention relates to roof drainage systems and more particularly to an adjustable roof drain apparatus for use on flat roofs and low pitched roofs.

BACKGROUND

Commercial and industrial buildings are commonly constructed with flat or nearly flat roofs. Flat roofs require draining systems to prevent excessive accumulation of water from rain and melting snow and to thereby avoid the resulting structural loading that could cause a collapse of the roof. Building standards generally require that flat roofs include roof drains positioned to facilitate draining most water from the roof through a drainage plumbing system.

Typical roof drains are installed on flat roofs by cutting a hole through the roof deck and installing a drain there through. The roof drain typically connects with drainage plumbing that carries the water away from the flat roof surface. Commonly used roof drains are generally installed using flashing or collar in combination with sealant or other waterproofing material to prevent leakage at the site of the drain installation. The open portion of the roof drain is typically covered by some form of grating or strainer to prevent the ingestion of large objects into the drain plumbing system. In typical roof drain structures this strainer or grate takes the form of a hemispherical strainer to prevent or minimize the occurrence of obstruction of the roof drain through the accumulation of leaves and other debris that may accumulate on the roof.

These commonly used roof drains generally also include flange portions and/or clamping rings that secure the drain body to a top surface and a bottom surface of the roof deck. However, the distance between the top surface and bottom surface of a roof deck may vary based on the thickness of sheathing materials and insulation materials that form the roof deck, for example. To accommodate varying roof deck thicknesses, a commonly used roof drain apparatus includes an adjustable sleeve so that flanges and/or clamping rings of the roof drain apparatus can abut the top surface and the bottom surface of the flat roof deck. A popular adjustable roof drain configuration includes a threaded sleeve portion that allows adjustment of the distance between the flanges and/or clamping rings to match the distances between the bottom surface and top surface of a flat roof deck.

An example of a commonly used roof drain having a threaded adjustable sleeve is described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The commonly used roof drain 100 includes a basin portion 108 and a threaded basin height extension portion 105, which threadingly engageable a threaded collar 104. An O-ring 110 is disposed between the threaded basin height extension portion 105 and the threaded collar 104. The threaded collar 104 is attached by fasteners 109 to the basin portion 108.

A clamp ring 101 is fastened to the threaded basin height extension portion 105 by fasteners such as hex bolts 107. A grated dome 102 for preventing leaves and debris from entering the roof drain 100 is removably attachable to the clamp ring 101. A compression gasket 106 is disposed between the compression ring 104 and the basin portion 108.

The threaded basin height extension portion 105 permits adjustment from about 1¼ inches to about 4 inches between flange portions and accommodates varying insulation thickness up to about 2¾ inches.

The adjustable roof drain apparatus shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B has been commonly used for many years and has been prone to leaking, particularly around the threaded portion.

SUMMARY

According to aspects of the present disclosure, an adjustable roof drain for flat and low pitch roofs includes a basin portion and a telescoping basin extension portion. A compression gasket provides a seal between the basin portion and the telescoping basin extension portions of the roof drain. The shape of the compression gasket causes it to be pushed inwardly when compressed so that it seals against the telescoping extension portion to both seal the extension portion and lock it at a selected height. The seal provided by the compression gasket prevents leakage that commonly occurs in previously known threaded roof drains such as the commonly used roof drain 100 shown in FIG. 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of aspects of the present disclosure will be facilitated upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a roof drain apparatus according to the PRIOR ART.

FIG. 1B is an exploded view drawing of the roof drain shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A illustrates a roof drain apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is an exploded view drawing of the roof drain apparatus shown in

FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is cross sectional view drawing of a roof drain apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a detail cross sectional view drawing of the compression ring and compression gasket shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a cross sectional view drawing of the telescoping basin height extension portion of an adjustable roof drain apparatus in a fully extended configuration according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a cross sectional view drawing of the telescoping basin height extension portion of an adjustable roof drain apparatus in a fully retracted configuration according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure include an adjustable roof drain that does not include a threaded portion and is less prone to leaking than the previous standard roof drains.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3B, a roof drain 200 according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a basin portion 208, a telescoping basin height extension portion 205 slidingly engageable with the basin portion 208, and a compression ring 204 between the basin portion 208 and the basin height extension portion 205. The compression ring 204 includes a planer lower surface 221 and beveled inside diameter 211.

In an illustrative embodiment, the clamp ring 201 is fastened to the telescoping basin height extension portion 205 by fasteners such as hex bolts 207. A grate portion 202 for preventing leaves and debris from entering the roof drain 200 is removably attachable to the clamp ring 201. In an illustrative embodiment the grate portion 202 includes an upwardly extending body such as a cast dome, for example.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the roof drain 200 also includes a compression gasket 206 between the compression ring 204 and the basin portion 208. The compression gasket 206 has a planer portion 217 abutting the planer lower surface 221 of the compression ring 204 and a raised lip portion 215. The raised lip portion 215 extends around an inside diameter of the compression gasket 206 and has a ramped surface 213 abutting the beveled inside diameter 211 of the compression ring 204. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the inside diameter of the compression gasket 206 seals against the telescoping basin height extension portion 205. In an illustrative embodiment, the compression gasket 206 may be made of neoprene, for example. In a particular embodiment, the compression gasket 206 is made from 65 durometer neoprene.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the roof drain includes a plurality of fasteners 209 coupling the compression ring 204 to the basin portion 208 such that tightening the fasteners 209 compresses the compression gasket 206 and urges the raised lip portion 215 inwardly against the telescoping basin height extension portion 205 to provide a seal between the telescoping basin height extension portion 205 and the basin portion 208.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the beveled inside diameter 211 of the compression ring 204 engages the ramped surface 213 of the raised lip portion 215 such that urging the raised lip portion 215 inwardly by tightening the fasteners 209 locks the telescoping basin height extension portion 205 at a selected height relative to the basin portion 208.

FIG. 3A shows the compression gasket 206 installed between the compression ring 204 and basin portion 208 to lock the telescoping basin height extension portion 205 at a selected height relative to the basin portion 208. The basin portion 208 includes a first annular wall 231, a first flange 233 extending outwardly from the first annular wall 231, and a bottom surface 235 extending inwardly from the first annular wall 231. A drainage pathway 237 extends through the bottom surface 235 of the basin portion 208 and a neck portion 239 extends from the bottom surface 235 around the drainage pathway 237.

The telescoping basin portion 205 includes a second annular wall 241 and a second flange 243 extending outwardly from the second annular wall 241. The second annular wall 241 fits inside the first annular wall 231 of the of the basin portion 208.

FIG. 3B is a detail view showing the cooperative interaction between the compression ring 204, compression gasket 206, basin portion 208 and basin height extension portion 205 as described above.

FIG. 4A shows an adjustable roof drain 200 in a fully extended configuration according to an aspect of the present disclosure. In the fully extended configuration the basin height extension portion 205 is raised to a maximum height relative to the basin portion 208.

FIG. 4B shows the adjustable roof drain 200 in a fully retracted configuration according to an aspect of the present disclosure. In the fully retracted configuration the basin height extension portion 205 is lowered to a minimum height relative to the basin portion 208.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure an adjustable roof drain apparatus includes a telescoping basin height extension portion configured to be slidingly engageable with a basin portion, a compression ring configured to fit between the basin portion and the basin height extension portion, and a compression gasket configured to fit between the compression ring and the basin portion. The compression ring including a planer lower surface and beveled inside diameter. The compression gasket includes a planer portion abutting the planer lower surface of the compression ring and a raised lip portion. The raised lip portion extends around an inside diameter of the compression gasket and includes a ramped surface abutting the beveled inside diameter of the compression ring. The inside diameter of the compression gasket is configured for sealing against the telescoping basin height extension portion. The adjustable roof drain apparatus according to this aspect of the disclosure may be used with a previously configured or previously installed basin portion, for example.

While particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims, which follow. In particular, it is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A roof drain, comprising:

a basin portion;

a telescoping basin height extension portion slidingly engageable with the basin portion;

a compression ring between the basin portion and the basin height extension portion, the compression ring including a planer lower surface and beveled inside diameter; and

a compression gasket between the compression ring and the basin portion, the compression ring gasket having a planer portion abutting the planer lower surface of the compression ring and a raised lip portion, the raised lip portion extending around an inside diameter of the compression gasket and having a ramped surface abutting the beveled inside diameter of the compression ring, the inside diameter of the compression gasket sealing against the telescoping basin height extension portion.

2. The roof drain of claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of fasteners coupling the compression gasket to the basin portion such that tightening the fasteners compresses the compression gasket and urges the raised lip portion inwardly against the telescoping basin height extension portion to provide a seal between the telescoping basin height extension portion and the basin portion.

3. The roof drain of claim 2, wherein the beveled inside diameter of the compression ring engages the ramped surface of the raised lip portion such that urging the raised lip portion inwardly by tightening the fasteners locks the telescoping basin height extension portion at a selected height relative to the basin portion.

4. The roof drain of claim 1, wherein the basin portion comprises:

a first annular wall;

a first flange extending outwardly from the first annular wall;

a bottom surface extending inwardly from the first annular wall;

a drainage pathway extending through the bottom surface; and

a neck portion extending from the bottom surface around the drainage pathway.

5. The roof drain of claim 4, wherein the telescoping basin portion comprises:

a second annular wall; and

a second flange extending outwardly from the second annular wall;

wherein the second annular wall fits inside the first annular wall of the of the basin portion.

6. The roof drain of claim 5, further comprising:

a clamp ring fastened to a top surface of the second flange; and

a grate portion removably coupled to the clamp ring.

7. The roof drain of claim 6, wherein the grate portion comprises an upwardly extending body.

8. The roof drain of claim 7, wherein the grate portion comprises a cast dome.

9. The roof drain of claim 1 wherein the compression gasket is made of neoprene.

10. The roof drain of claim 9, wherein the compression gasket is made from 65 durometer neoprene.

11. An adjustable roof drain apparatus, comprising:

a telescoping basin height extension portion configured to be slidingly engageable with a basin portion;

a compression ring configured to fit between the basin portion and the basin height extension portion, the compression ring including a planer lower surface and beveled inside diameter; and

a compression gasket configured to fit between the compression ring and the basin portion, the compression gasket having a planer portion abutting the planer lower surface of the compression ring and a raised lip portion, the raised lip portion extending around an inside diameter of the compression gasket and having a ramped surface abutting the beveled inside diameter of the compression ring, the inside diameter of the compression gasket configured for sealing against the telescoping basin height extension portion.

12. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 11, comprising:

a plurality of fasteners coupling the compression ring to the basin portion such that tightening the fasteners compresses the compression gasket and urges the raised lip portion inwardly against the telescoping basin height extension portion to provide a seal between the telescoping basin height extension portion and the basin portion.

13. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 12, wherein the beveled inside diameter of the compression ring is configured to engage the ramped surface of the raised lip portion such that urging the raised lip portion inwardly by tightening the fasteners locks the telescoping basin height extension portion at a selected height relative to the basin portion.

14. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 13, wherein the telescoping basin extension portion comprises:

an annular wall; and

a flange extending outwardly from the annular wall;

wherein the annular wall fits inside a first annular wall of the of the basin portion.

15. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a clamp ring fastened to a top surface of the flange.

16. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a grate portion removably coupled to the clamp ring.

17. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 16, wherein the grate portion comprises an upwardly extending body.

18. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 17, wherein the grate portion comprises a cast dome.

19. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 18 wherein the compression gasket is made of neoprene.

20. The adjustable roof drain apparatus of claim 19, wherein the compression gasket is made from 65 durometer neoprene.