Patent Publication Number: US-2012023658-A1

Title: Perimeter drainage system for showers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a drainage system for a shower, and more particularly to a drainage system for a shower located around the perimeter of the shower. 
     A large number of showers are installed every year. A typical shower employs a floor drain that is located near the center of the shower floor which is inclined downward toward the drain. Unfortunately, often the center drain becomes slippery and because it is located in the center of the shower, it is hard for the user to avoid standing on it, which may cause the user to fall. 
     In addition, in shower floors made of stone such as marble or granite, the stone must include additional diagonal cuts to create the slopes of incline toward the drain, which results in an aesthetically unpleasing look. 
     Furthermore, because of the inclination of the shower floor, all the debris is collected on the centered drain clogging the drain. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a drainage system for a shower floor that is safe, looks aesthetically pleasant, and does not clog easily. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the drainage system comprises: grated tracks adapted to be located along a periphery of a floor; at least one drain located on the grated tracks; an underneath channel running below the grated tracks; and at least one drain conduit running from the at least one drain to a floor drain. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the drainage system comprises: grated tracks adapted to be located along a periphery of a floor; at least one drain located on the grated tracks; an underneath channel running below the grated tracks; at least one drain conduit running from the at least one drain to a floor drain: and a waterproof membrane placed underneath the top surface floor that extends over the underneath channel. 
     In one embodiment, the underneath channel may included a waterproof strip that may be sloped to achieve the requisite fall in elevation (“fall strip”); 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of the drainage system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view of the drainage system taken along section II-II′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention showing an adjustable floor pitch tier; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective front view of an underneath channel of the drainage system of  FIG. 1  showing mitered corners; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective front view of the fall strip according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross sectional view of the drainage system taken along section III-III′ of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a drainage system including a shower floor having side edges; grated tracks located along the periphery of the shower floor thus, water and debris may drain to the side of the shower floor where the grated track is located. Then, the water is brought by a descending channel to a corner drain that sits below the grated track 
       FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the present invention on which the drainage system  10  may include at least one drain  90  located along the length of grated tracks  70 . 
     In addition,  FIG. 1  shows the drainage system  10  of the present invention, which may include a shower floor  20  having corners  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 . Grated tracks  70  may be located along the periphery of the shower floor  20 . In addition,  FIG. 1  shows that the drainage system  10  may include a drain  90  located on each corner  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 . In one embodiment, the drains may be located at any point along the length of the grated track  70 . Furthermore,  FIG. 2  shows that the drainage system  10  may include an underneath channel  100  that may run below the tracks. In one embodiment, the slope may be pre-fabricated into the underneath channel  100 . In one embodiment, the underneath channel  100  may include a fall strip  105  inserted over the channel to achieve the requisite slope if the slope has not been built into the channel  100 . The Fall Strip  105  may be sized, sloped, and mitered such that may lay into the underneath channel  100  creating the necessary drainage flow. 
     Drain conduits  110  may run from each one of the drains  90  to the floor drain  120 . 
     Although the shape of the shower floor  20  represented in the drawing is substantially square, it will be seen to those skilled in the art that many other shapes may be used such as rectangular, triangular, round, pentagonal, or hexagonal. 
     The grated tracks  70  may include openings  80  and may be made of a non-corrosive and waterproof material, including but not limited to plastic, glass, or stainless steel. In one embodiment, the grated tracks  70  are made of stainless steel. The grated tracks  70  may be span to the entire shower floor  20 . The openings  80  may be between 0.75 to 2.0 inches long. In one embodiment, the openings are 1.5 inches long. The opening  80  may be 1/16 to ¼ of an inch wide. In one embodiment, the grated tracks are removable. 
     The underneath channel  100  may be made of a waterproof material, including but not limited to plastic, ceramics, stainless steel, glass, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In one embodiment, the underneath channel  100  is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In one embodiment, the underneath channel may include a slope. In one embodiment the underneath channel  100  has a concave shape. The slope of the underneath channel  100  may be between 1/16 to ¼ inches. In one embodiment, the slope is ⅛ of an inch. The corners of the underneath channel  100  may be mitered to facilitate the flow of water. 
     The drain  90  may include a drain conduit  110  that may run from the corner drain  90  to the floor drain  120  to guide the water to the floor drain  120 . The drain conduit  110  may be made of a water-impermeable material such as plastic, glass, stainless steel, or a polymer. In one embodiment, the drain conduit  110  may be made of plastic. The drain conduit may take on various suitable shapes. 
     In one embodiment, the drainage system  10  of the present invention may include a waterproof membrane  130  located between the shower floor  20  and the preformed shower tray  140  and at the contact surfaces of the grated tracks  70  and the underneath channel  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the drainage system  10  further includes an adjustable floor pitch tier  150 . The adjustable floor pitch tier  150  may include a base  160  fastened to the floor  20 ; a threaded post  170  connected to the base  160  at one end and to a cap plate  180  at the other end. The adjustable floor pitch may allow adjusting to the slope of the floor 
     In the present invention water and debris may drain to the side of the shower floor where the grated track is located. The water and debris are then brought by a descending channel to a corner drain that sits below the grated. The design of the present invention may reduce clogging of the drain because hair and debris may be collected at the underneath channel, which can be cleaned periodically. In addition, the design of the present invention may help to improve the aesthetic aspect of the shower, because the tracks can be easily integrated into the pattern of the shower floor. 
     The drainage system of the present invention is not limited to a shower floor. The system may be used in any type of floor that needs to be drained. In one embodiment, the floor may be a kitchen floor. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.