Abstract:
A reusable drain installer device for drainage systems, in the form of at least one generally “U” shaped form having a length suitable for the length of the drain to be installed, generally vertical sides and a bottom. A flange is positioned on the top of the vertical sides extending out from the sides. Removable spreader members are used to maintain the sides in a vertical orientation and a removable end cap closes the ends of the forms.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for installing drains. More particularly, the invention relates to an installer device that can be used a multiple number of times to install drains for garages, shops and other interior floor drainage systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Interior drainage system for garages, shops and manufacturing facilities require drains that are much larger than a simple drain in the center of the floor. Plumbing requirements are now more strict and larger drains of up to fifteen or twenty feet in length are required or at least recommended to direct water and other fluids into a waste trap or sewer system. 
         [0003]    In addition, the installation of drains on driveways at or near the portion of the driveway that joins to a road is necessary to prevent flooding and permit the flow of rain water and melted snow to a waste trap or storm sewer. Various materials have been used, such as metal culverts, ceramic and plastic pipes and poured concrete forms. 
         [0004]    In commercial garages, shops and other buildings, the cost of installation and the cost of the device used to form the passageway for water to flow is becoming expensive, particularly as building codes add requirements to the permitted designs for these drains. In residential buildings, builders or owners sometimes use less than adequate methods to control the flow of water, resulting un unwanted flooding or, at least, unnecessary pools of water. 
         [0005]    It would be of advantage in the art if a device could be provided that would permit the construction of an effective driveway drain for either commercial or residential internal or external use at a low cost. 
         [0006]    It would be another advance in the art if a drain for a facility could be installed without the use of expensive pipes and the like. 
         [0007]    Other advantages will appear hereinafter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It has now been discovered that the above and other advantages of the present invention may be obtained in the following manner. Specifically, the present invention provides for a simple, effective device for making a drain system without expensive components such as culverts, pipes and the like. 
         [0009]    In its simplest form, the present invention comprises a metal “U” shaped form of appropriate size for a typical industrial or residential building drain. The form is placed in an excavated drain location, attached to a drain support member on both of the longitudinal sides and held in place above the bottom of the excavated location. Concrete or the like is poured under and around the form and allowed to set. The form is then disconnected from the drain support members and removed. 
         [0010]    The form may be used alone or a number of similar forms may be attached longitudinally to provide a form of sufficient length to cover the entire area where the drain is to be installed. The form and the other components are formed from a rigid material such as steel or aluminum, that must be strong enough to withstand pressure from the concrete or the like until it sets up and hardens. 
         [0011]    In a preferred embodiment, the “U” shaped form has vertical sides, a horizontal bottom, and an angled portion at the junction of the sides and bottom. The angle may be 45° because that is easy to fabricate, or other angles may be used. Plates of the same or similar material are used to align and support the forms. Also preferred is to have a flange at the top of the two sides extending out from the form. Holes are drilled in the flanges to permit the drain support members to be attached to the form. 
         [0012]    The drain support members are angled metal bars, such as “L” shaped angle iron having a 90° bend so they can be attached to the top of the form, such as to the flanges. A rod, such as rebar, is driven into the ground next to the form and support member and attached to them, such as with “U” bolts, thus providing a stable form. After the concrete or the like has been poured, the drain support members are left in place and serve to support and align the drain grating. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is hereby made to the drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the drain support member used with the device of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the device, assembly  10  generally, comprises a “U” shaped form  11  having vertical sides  13 , a bottom  15  and an angled portion  17  connecting the sides to the bottom. As shown, angled portion  17  is at 45° though other angles can be used. The function of the angled portion  17  is to facilitate the removal of the form at the end of the installation. 
         [0017]    In  FIG. 1 , two “U” shaped forms  11  and  11   a  are shown. It has been found that three foot long forms are relatively easy to make and use, and a number of forms can be assembled, on site or at the shop, to have one continuous form of the required length. Lengths up to 21 feet or more allow for one continuous drain formation. Other lengths are also within the scope of this invention. 
         [0018]    Forms  11  and  11   a  are attached together at the top using form spreader  19  with nuts and bolts, not shown, or other fastener means. Each end of form  11  that is not attached to another form  11   a  has an end spreader  21 . Spreaders  19  and  21  help to maintain the walls  13  in a vertical orientation and prevents caving in of the “U” shape when concrete or the like is poured on the outside of walls  13 . Similarly, an end cap  23  is provided to keep material out of the “U” shape and is attached to the bottom  15  by lip  25 . 
         [0019]    The tops of walls  13  terminate in vertical flanges  27  that extend out from walls  13  and also have holes  28 . Attached on top of flanges  27  is a drain support member  31 , shown in  FIG. 2 . Drain support member  31  is “L” shaped and has at least two vertical portions  33 , attached to the bottom of the “L”, such as by welding. Drain support members  31  are placed on top of form  11  and fastened with screws or nuts and bolts to flange  27 . A bar  35 , such as rebar or other metal rods normally used in concrete projects, is driven into the group next to the location of the forms  11 ,  11   a  and so on. In  FIG. 1 , two such rebar rods  35  are shown, but as many as needed can be used. If the drain excavation is large, an additional vertical portion  33  may be attached to drain support member  31 , such as in the middle or elsewhere and another bar  35  attached there. 
         [0020]    After the drain support member  31  is attached to form  11  on flange  27 , a “U” bolt  37  is placed around rod  35  and through holes  39  in vertical portion  33  and fastened with nuts  41  to hold the entire assembly in place. The assembly  10  is ready for concrete. 
         [0021]    Upon completion of the installation, form spreaders  19 , end spreaders  21  and end plates  23  are removed and drain support members  31  are unfastened from flanges  27 . The walls  13  of form  11  are pushed inward and the form is lifted out, leaving the drain support members  31  in place. A drain grate, not shown, can then be placed on the drain support members  31   
         [0022]    To use the present invention, the number of forms  11  that are necessary to span with width of the location are assembled on site or at the shop. A typical driveway may require 15 feet of forms, though any length may be used as needed. A trench is dug and the plumber places any pipe on location that transfers water to a waste trap or pond, depending on site requirements. 
         [0023]    In order to insure that there is space under the forms  11  to have a bottom to the pour, blocks of wood or other materials are placed below them and the location of forms  11  is established. Form spreaders  19 , end spreaders  21  and end caps  23  are attached as needed, giving rigidity to the forms  11 . Drain support members  31  are attached to flanges  27  if they have not yet been so attached. Bars  35  are driven into place and the entire unit is aligned and fastened to bars  35  with “U” bold  37  through holes  39  in member  33  with nuts  41 . The blocks of wood or other material are then removed because the assembly  10  is securely in place. 
         [0024]    Concrete or the like is then poured around the assembly  10  and allowed to harden. At this point, the spreaders  19  and  21 , and end caps  23  are removed and drain support member  31  is detached from flanges  27 . Sides  13  are pushed toward each other to allow the forms  11  to be removed, cleaned and reused. The site is cleaned up and the drain grate, if one is used, is placed on drain support members  31  and, optionally, fastened thereto. 
         [0025]    The present invention is used to place a drain in a building such as a shop, garage, or manufacturing facility. It may also be used outdoors where water, from rain, snow or other sources, is to flow under a surface such as a driveway and into a waste trap, in commercial applications, or into dry layed pipes above ground for some residential driveways and the like. Alternatively, if a drain grate is not needed, a cover can be placed over the formed drain and paved over or otherwise covered much like a culvert. 
         [0026]    An important advantage of the present invention is that the drain installer and the related parts described above can be used many times, thus substantially reducing equipment costs while providing a fully acceptable drain for commercial and residential or rural sites. 
         [0027]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.