Roof drain coupling

A drain assembly is disclosed having a drain insert member with a tube portion carrying at its upper end a flange which extends radially outwardly. A clamp ring member is adapted to overlie and be clamped onto the flange member. The flange has a plurality of post members which extend upwardly from the upper surface of the flange. The clamp ring member has a plurality of upwardly extending socket forming members each defining a socket recess open at a lower surface of the clamp ring member and adapted to receive a post member in the socket recess therein. A screw member extends downwardly through the top of the socket forming member to engage the post member and draw the clamp ring member downward onto the flange in clamping arrangement therewith. The upstanding post members and socket forming members permit the drain insert member to be made by injection moulding from a two piece mould. Further, their location is independent of the diameter of the tube portion of the drain insert member so that a single size clamp ring member can be used on a number of drain insert members having a similar flange but different internal diameter tube portions.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to roof drains and more particularly to an improved 
configuration for coupling a clamp ring member to a flange of a roof drain 
insert member. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many known roof drain assemblies comprise a roof drain insert member and a 
clamp ring member to overlie and be clamped onto a top flange of the 
insert member. Typically, internal lugs are provided on both the clamp 
ring member and the top flange which extend radially inwardly into the 
tubular drain. This has the disadvantage that the lugs can restrict flow 
of water. To prevent excessive interference with water flow, the lugs are 
located closely adjacent inside walls of the tubular drain. To accomplish 
this, however, for each different size tubular drain, a different size 
clamp ring is required. Provision of internal lugs makes it very difficult 
to mould drain insert members in that two piece moulds can not be used and 
more complex mould constructions are required. A further disadvantage of 
the internal lugs is that their use results in concentration of forces on 
the lugs increasing the likelyhood of failure and possible leakage. 
Screws to secure typical clamp ring members onto flanges of the drain 
insert members are located flush with or below the upper surface of the 
ring members. This has the disadvantage that the holes into which the 
screws are to be placed or the screws themselves are frequently hidden and 
covered with tar, asphalt or other sealants applied to the roof about the 
roof drain insert. This can be a substantial inconvenience and loss of 
time during installation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, to at least partially overcome these disadvantages of 
previously known devices, the present invention provides a roof drain 
insert with an upper flange having upstanding hollow post members adapted 
to extend upwardly into socket recesses in the lower surface of a clamp 
ring member, which socket recesses are provided internally in socket 
forming members extending upwardly through the clamp ring member and above 
the upper surface of the clamp ring member. 
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved assembly for 
coupling clamp ring members over an upwardly directed flange of a roof 
drain insert member. 
An other object is to provide a series of roof drain inserts compatable 
with different diameter drain pipes yet with which a single size clamp 
ring member can be used. 
An other object is to provide a roof drain insert which can be moulded from 
plastic using a two piece mould. 
Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the present invention provides a roof 
drain assembly comprising a drain insert member having a tube portion with 
an upper opening and a lower opening plus a flange extending outwardly 
about the upper opening, a thin planar clamp ring member overlying the 
flange with a central opening through the clamp ring member to provide 
access to the upper opening of the tube portion, a plurality of post 
members on the flange extending upwardly beyond an upper surface of the 
flange, each post member having a central aperture extending downwardly 
from the top of each post member into the post member but not entirely 
through the flange, a plurality of socket forming members on the clamp 
ring member extending upwardly beyond an upper surface of the clamp ring 
member, each socket forming member defining therein a socket recess to 
receive a post member therein through an opening to the socket recess in a 
lower surface of the clamp ring member, an entrance aperture through an 
upper end of each socket forming member downward into the socket recess, 
and screw means extending downwardly via the entrance aperture into the 
socket means to engage in the central aperture of the post means and urge 
the clamp ring member downwardly into sealed clamping engagement on top of 
the flange. 
In another aspect the present invention provides a roof drain assembly 
comprising: 
a drain insert member having a tube portion with flange means extending 
outwardly about an upper opening of the tube portion, 
removable clamp ring means overlying the flange means, 
post means on the flange means extending upwardly from an upper surface of 
the flange means, 
socket forming means on the clamp ring means extending upwardly beyond an 
upper surface of the clamp ring means, 
a socket recess in each socket forming means to receive one of the post 
means therein through an access opening to the socket recess in a lower 
surface of the clamp ring member, 
screw means extending downwardly through the socket forming means into the 
socket recess to engage the post means and urge the clamping ring means 
downward into clamping engagement on top of the flange means. 
A drain assembly in accordance with the invention includes a drain insert 
member with a tube portion carrying at its upper end a flange which 
extends radially outwardly. A clamp ring member is adapted to overlie and 
be clamped onto the flange member. The flange has a plurality of post 
members which extend upwardly from the upper surface of the flange. The 
clamp ring member has a plurality of upwardly extending socket forming 
members each defining a socket recess open at a lower surface of the clamp 
ring member and adapted to receive a post member therein. A screw member 
extends downwardly through the top of the socket forming member to engage 
the post member in the socket recess and draw the clamp ring member 
downward onto the flange in clamping arrangement therewith. The upstanding 
post members and socket forming members permit the drain insert member to 
be made by injection moulding from a two piece mould. Further, their 
location is independent of the diameter of the tube portion of the drain 
insert member so that a single size clamp ring can be used on a number of 
drain insert members having a similar flange but different internal 
diameter tube portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Reference is made first to FIG. 1 which shows a roof drain assembly in 
accordance with the present invention comprising roof drain insert member 
10, clamp ring member 12, straining basket 14, seal ring 16 and washer 18. 
The assembly is shown in FIG. 1 in the context of a roof generally 
indicated 20 supported by means not shown and below which a drain pipe 22 
is located also supported by means not shown. A thin water impermeable 
sheeting 23 covers roof 20. The roof drain assembly is sealed to both 
sheeting 23 and drain pipe 22 and serves to transfer water collected on 
the roof to the drain pipe 22. 
Drain insert member 10 has a cylindrical tube portion generally indicated 
24 with an upper opening 26 at its upper end and a lower opening 27 at its 
lower end. Member 10 also has a thin, planar flange 28 extending radially 
outwardly about upper opening 26. Flange 28 has circumferentially spaced, 
counter-sunk holes 30 therein, through which recessed head screws 32 
extend to secure flange 28 to roof 20 with a lower surface of flange 28 in 
locating abutment with an upper surface of roof 20. 
Flange 28 carries six post members 34 which extend upwardly beyond upper 
surface 36 of flange 28. Each post member 34 is shown to be substantially 
cylindrical and to have a central aperture 38 which extends downwardly 
into post member 34. Central aperture 38 does not extend entirely through 
flange 28 but rather terminates as a blind end 40. With post members 34 
extending upwardly from flange 28, flange 28, as shown, has a flat lower 
surface to sit flush onto roof 20. Post members 34 in extending upwardly 
from flange 28 do not cause interference on inserting the drain insert 
member into a pre-existing drain. 
Clamp ring member 12 overlies flange 28 with a central opening 42 through 
ring member 12 to provide access to tubular portion 24 via upper opening 
26. Substantial portions of ring member 12 are relatively thin and planar. 
Six socket forming members 44 are provide on ring member 12 each rising 
above the upper surface 46 of ring member 12. Socket forming members 44 
each define a socket recess 48 therein. Recess 48 has a lower opening 50 
in lower surface 52 of ring member 12. Socket forming members 44 
constitute a generally cylindrical upstanding wall 58 which at its upper 
end preferably extends radially inwardly to provide an inwardly extending 
flange 56 at the top of member 44. An entrance aperture extends downwardly 
through the top of each member 44 into socket recess 48. 
Socket forming members 44 are complementarily located having regard to the 
location of post members 34 so that each socket recess 48 may receive a 
post member 34 therein. 
Screw member 60 extends downwardly through the top of socket forming member 
44 via the entrance aperture and into central aperture 38 of a post member 
34 received inside socket recess 48. Screw member 60 engages post engages 
post member 34 to urge ring member 12 down onto flange 28. Preferably 
screw member 60 carries a washer 62 to distribute loads onto socket 
forming member 44. 
With sheeting 23 located between flange 28 and ring member 12 
circumferentially about flange 28, sheeting 23 can be clamped between ring 
member 12 and flange 28 to form a seal entirely about the periphery of the 
drain assembly. 
Although not necessary, screws 32 fastening flange 28 to roof 20 may be 
located under sheeting 23 and flush with the upper surface of flange 28. 
Ring member 12 preferably is provided at its outer edge with a segmented 
rim 64 which extends vertically upwardly (axially) above upper surface 46 
of ring member 12 to where rim 64 has an enlarged radially outwardly 
extending flange-like lip 66. Rim 64 is shown as a plurality of 
circumferentially spaced segments, each designated 64 separated by 
vertical spaces or cut-out portions 70 extending downwardly to the height 
of upper surface 46 of ring member 12 as best seen in FIG. 4. When used in 
securing roof sheeting 23, spaces 70 permit water to pass through rim 64 
when the water rises merely to the height of upper surface 46 of the ring 
member. 
While FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 show use of a drain assembly in its preferred use 
with roof sheeting 23, the drain assembly can also be use with an asphalt 
type roof sealing system as shown in FIG. 9 in which a layer 72 of tar, 
asphalt or other sealant, preferably covered by gravel 74, may be poured 
directly over roof 20. In this case ring member 12 may be urged directly 
onto flange 28 as shown. Segmented rim 64 serves to help the asphalt or 
tar 72 and gravel 74 from entering the drain. Alternately, during 
re-roofing, either or both of felt or asphalt may be placed between ring 
member 12 and flange 28, preferably with a final layer of asphalt with 
gravel on top that butts up in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 9. 
In order to securely grip sheeting 23, as seen in FIG. 4, the lower surface 
52 of ring member 12 may have one or more downwardly extending angular 
ridges 98. Preferably, complementary located and sized grooves 99 may be 
provided in the upper surface 36 of flange 28, to assist in gripping sheet 
23 and also, as shown in FIG. 9 when no sheet is between the ring member 
12 and flange 28, to accommodate ridges 98. 
The drain assembly preferably has a straining basket 14 which prevents 
leaves, twigs, paper and the like from entering and clogging the drain. 
Basket 14 is shown to have a lower peripheral edge 75 with a downwardly 
extending inner projection 76 to closely contact the radially inside 
surface of rim 64. Preferably, three catch members 77 are provided on 
basket 14 as seen in FIG. 1. Catch members 77 engage under lip 66 to 
securely retain basket 14 onto ring member 12. With basket 14 having some 
resiliency, basket 14 may be snapped on and off of lip 66. 
The lower end of tube portion 24 is preferably sealed to drain pipe 22. 
While this may be accomplished in a number of ways, a preferred 
construction is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7 in accordance with the 
teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,499 to Uglow et al. issued Mar. 19, 1985. 
Tube portion 24 is recessed inwardly about lower opening 27 so as to 
provide outwardly thereof an annular space 80 to receive about tube 
portion 24 annular seal ring 16 and washer 18 in axially sliding relation. 
Washer 18 has three enlarged radially inwardly extending lugs 82 each 
carrying metal nuts 84 secured therein. Three screws 86 extend from radial 
lugs 88 of tube portion 24 downward to engage nuts 84 and draw washer 18 
upwardly so as to compress elastomeric (rubber) seal ring 16. Ring 16 on 
being compressed is urged outwardly into sealing engagement with the 
inside wall 90 of drain pipe 22 as well as axially into the recessed, 
radially inwardly extending annular shoulder 92 of tube portion 24. As 
shown, annular space 80 is only of a radial inward extent equal to the 
thickness of ring 16 except at three places where it is enlarged under 
lugs 88 as at 94 to accommodate lugs 82 of washer 18. Lugs 88 present an 
upper flat surface which the head of screw 86 may engage between 
reinforcing flanges 96. Screws 86 are accessible through upper opening 26. 
Preferably each of drain insert member 10, ring clamp member 12, straining 
basket 14 and washer 18 may be moulded from plastic as by injection 
moulding. The particular configuration of the post members permits 
moulding of the drain insert member with a two piece mould with the tube 
portion tapering a minor, insignificant amount downwardly. One piece of 
the mould may provide the upper and inside surfaces while the other piece 
of the mould may provide the lower and outer surfaces of the tube portion 
24. 
In practical application, a considerable number of different tube portions 
24 need be provided, to closely correspond to the different inside 
diameters of drain pipes 22. These drain pipes may be either previously 
existing drain pipes being retrofitted or a new drain pipe. The system of 
coupling ring member 12 to flange 28 is such that ring members 12 and 
flanges 28 of identical dimensions can be used in association with tube 
portions 24 having smaller diameters than the tube portions 24 shown in 
solid lines in FIG. 1. For example, a tubular portion such as shown in 
FIG. 1 in dotted lines as 24a could be provided with flange member 28 
modified but to extend further radially inwardly as 28a. This permits 
substantial saving in manufacturing cost in that a single mould component 
for flange 28 and post members 34 can be used with a number of different 
mould inserts to provide drain insert members having different diameter 
tube portions 24 but flange and post members of the same dimensions. 
Advantageously, one size of clamp ring member 12 can be made to fit insert 
members 10 having different diameter tube portions. Thus a plurality of 
drain insert members with different tube diameters can be used but with 
the need to supply only a single size of clamp ring member and a single 
size of straining basket. This can significally reduce inventor of clamp 
ring members and facilitate on site installation. 
Providing the post members and socket forming members to be upstanding 
about the upper surfaces of the flange and the clamp ring member is 
advantageous where asphalt, tar or other sealing materials are to be 
applied and frequently are to be slopped onto a drain, making location of 
screw holes difficult. 
With the post members having a blind end and effectively sealing the thread 
portion of screw member 60 therein, corrosion of the screw member is 
greatly reduced and the screw member can more easily be withdrawn after 
the passing of time if necessary. 
In the preferred embodiment shown, the post members and socket forming 
members have been shown to be cylindrical. It is to be appreciated that 
many other complementary shape could also be used. 
While the preferred embodiments show flange 28 as having a radius about 
equal to that of clamping ring 12, advantageously, flange 28 may have a 
substantially greater radius than clamping ring 12 to provide additional 
bonding to sheeting 23 or to avoid the need for conventional flashings. 
While FIG. 4 shows grooves 99 complementary to ridges 98, sealing can be 
fully provided without grooves 99 or without both the groves or ridges. 
When grooves 99 are used, caution needs to be exercised to not unduly 
weaken flange 28. 
Various systems can be used to retain basket 14 onto ring member 12. 
Preferred systems are ones which make it difficult for vandals or 
non-authorized persons to remove the basket. One such system could use 
three or more spring-loaded catch members partially hidden within the 
basket so as to be out of sight and require two or more to be 
simultaneously released to free the basket. 
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred 
embodiments, the invention is not so limited. Many variations and 
modifications will now occur to those skilled in the art. For a definition 
of the invention, reference is made to the appended claims.