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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/008301, filed Jul. 23, 2004, which was published in the German language on Feb. 10, 2005, under International Publication No. WO 2005/012661 A1, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a surface drainage device. 
     In line drainage systems water derived from the surface is generally conducted into an inlet chamber, sink trap or similar container from which it is then transferred into a channel system. If there is no gradient in the surrounding terrain, the depths of the consecutive channels in the system are chosen to be such that their bottom levels form a stepwise gradient. Depending on the site at which the channels are coupled to the inlet chambers, they therefore differ in height, in particular with respect to the internal profile. 
     To enable channels of different heights to be coupled to an inlet chamber, various constructions are known. In particular, attempts have already been made to couple trains of channels by means of insertion parts that have different heights, or can be coupled at different heights, as is known, for example, from German published patent applications DE 24 47 871 A1, DE 26 15 800 A1 and DE 44 25 940 A1 and German utility model DE 295 03 911 U1. The known systems, however, are of very elaborate construction, which affects both their manufacture and also the effort of installing them, in particular when it comes to adjusting them with respect to the various channel heights. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a surface drainage device that reduces the effort required for both manufacture and assembly at the construction site. 
     This objective is achieved in the case of a surface drainage system, in particular an inlet chamber, sink trap, branch channel, or similar drainage device, to which a drainage channel or similar water-conducting element is to be attached, in that it comprises at least one wall section for attachment of the water-conducting element, wherein the wall section comprises at least one flat section made of an elastomeric material. 
     An aim of the invention is that the drainage device, which itself consists of massive material that can support heavy loads, is combined with an elastomeric material or is constructed in part of such material, so that simple tools can be used to adapt this wall section to the water-conducting element that is to be coupled thereto. Therefore, less effort is required, both for manufacture and for assembly. The installation of several such wall sections in the drainage device is also easily possible. 
     Preferably, the surface drainage device is cast from concrete, in particular concrete polymer, which ensures high stability of the overall arrangement as well as a good bonding connection between the material of the surface drainage device and the elastomeric section. 
     Preferably, the flat section made of elastomeric material is poured into a surrounding wall section, and hence merely constitutes a section that is part of the associated wall. As a result, adequate stability of the overall arrangement is guaranteed. The casting process generates a fluid-tight connection between the cast element and the inlet chamber. 
     Preferably, the flat section is provided at its edge with an anchoring section by which a firm connection between the flat section and the device as a whole is ensured. The anchoring section is oriented at least partially at an angle to a main plane within which the flat section extends, or comprises a thickening, such that a stable and tightly sealed anchoring can be produced by simple means. 
     Preferably, the flat section comprises template arrangements that each correspond to an inner profile of a water-conducting element that could be attached to the flat section, so that the template can be used to cut out the flat section in correspondence with the required inner profile. This is made possible in particular by the fact that the channels are customarily standardized with respect to their height, so that the template with its various markings can be designed in advance in accordance with the various channel heights. 
     The template arrangements are preferably provided on a side of the flat section that faces away from the water-conducting element that is to be attached. This makes it possible for the assembler to view the template arrangement in its entirety, because it is freely and openly exposed. 
     The template arrangements preferably comprise a plurality of grooves for positioning a knife or similar cutting tool and marking its course. Hence, only very little skill is needed to undertake correct positioning and correct cutting of the elastomeric wall section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of a drainage device with a wall section made of elastomeric material according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the arrangement according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a section along the line III-III in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a section along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a section along the line V-V in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a wall section; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of a wall section; 
         FIG. 8  is a section along the line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a view along the line IX-IX in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a view along the line X-X in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic sectional view of a vertical section through an embodiment of a surface drainage device in accordance with the invention, with attached water-conducting element prior to adjustment of the flat section; 
         FIG. 12  is a view similar to that in  FIG. 11 , but after adjustment; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, similar to that in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the arrangement according to  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a section along the line XV-XV in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a section along the line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a section along the line XVII-XVII in  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a front view of the flat section according to  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a back view of the flat section according to  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a section along the line XX-XX in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a view along the line XXI-XXI in  FIG. 19 ; and 
         FIG. 22  is a view along the line XXII-XXII in  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for identical parts and parts with identical actions. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It should also be emphasized that the shape and the intended use of the drainage device according to  FIG. 1  or  13  are not limited. This component can be an inlet chamber, a sink trap or also a drainage channel to which additional channel elements are to be attached in order to form a T-piece or a crossing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an inlet chamber  1  is provided, on the upper side of which a cover grating is provided as usual. The inlet chamber  1  comprises a wall section  10 , in which a cutout  11  is provided. The cutout  11  is shaped so that the maximal height of the profile of a drainage channel to be joined thereto can be connected so as to be flush therewith. 
     Within the wall section  10 , closing off part of the cutout  11 , a flat section  20  is provided made of an elastomeric material, in particular a soft plastic or rubber material. On the surface of the flat section  20  that can be seen from the interior of the inlet chamber  1 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , there are template arrangements  22  which, as shown in  FIG. 4 , each comprise one of a series of grooves that are separated from one another by ridges. In this exemplary embodiment an upper edge  24  of the flat section  20  is configured such that it corresponds to the inner profile of a drainage channel with minimal height. The grooves, i.e., template markings, shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are shaped so as to correspond to the (standardized) channel heights for various channels in a gradient sequence. Therefore, any of the channels in the gradient sequence can be attached, and it is not necessary to begin with a particular channel as has previously been the case. 
     The flat section  20  comprises at its outer edges anchoring sections  21 , which are shown very clearly in particular in  FIG. 10 . These anchoring sections  21  are cast into the (concrete polymer) material of the inlet chamber  1 , i.e., into its wall section  10 , so that it is impossible for the flat section  20  to be torn out, and a fluid-tight connection is created between the poured-in template arrangement and the concrete polymer. 
     The procedure for assembly begins with the placement of a channel  30  against the inlet chamber  1 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . A front surface  33  of the channel  30  thus abuts against a planar outer surface  25  of the flat section  20 . In the situation shown in  FIG. 11 , the inner profile  31  of the channel  30  is deeper than the upper edge  24  of the flat section  20 . Now, so as to create a smooth transition, a knife is inserted into a groove  23  and passes through the flat section  20  to a depth such that the knife is in contact with the inner profile  31  of the drainage channel  30 . Then, the knife is used to cut all around the inner profile  31  of the channel  30 , so that a corresponding strip is separated from the flat section  20 , until the shape shown in  FIG. 12  is produced. Now a sealing trough  32  provided at the end face of the channel  30  is filled with a sealing material, which simultaneously forms a firm connection with both the material of the channel  30  and the material of the flat section  20 , so that the transition from the channel  30  to the sink trap  1  is tightly sealed. 
     The embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 13-22  differs from that according to  FIGS. 1-12  in that the upper edge  24  of the flat section  20  is positioned at substantially the full height of the inlet chamber  1 , which offers advantages during the process of pouring in the flat section  20 . 
     It is of course also possible for the flat section  20  to be provided with an anchoring section  21  over its entire periphery, so that the wall section it forms in a drainage device, in particular a drainage channel, is tightly sealed and need not be cut out unless it is needed for coupling to an additional channel element at the side, i.e., to form a T-piece. It is likewise possible to install a flat section  20  made of elastomeric material at the floor of a surface drainage device, so that outlet pipes can be attached. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Summary:
A surface drainage device, in particular a sink tank is provided for connection to a drainage device or similar water-conducting element. At least one wall section of the surface drainage device is provided for connection to the water-conducting element and includes at least one flat section that is made of an elastomeric material, so that it can be adapted for the connection by a simple tool.