AU2016256750B1

AU2016256750B1 - A drain grate assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2016256750B1
Application number: AU2016256750A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald Maxwell
Original assignee: DEZINAL Pty Ltd
Current assignee: DEZINAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-04-14
Filing date: 2016-11-10
Publication date: 2017-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-10
Also published as: AU2019204385A1; AU2016256750C1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drain grate assembly for a building threshold. The assembly includes a drain grate, and a sill for mounting at least one door or window. A portable holder is provided for holding the drain grate and the sill. Advantageously, the portable holder may be readily installed in the flooring so as to effectively simultaneously install the held drain grate and sill.

Description

2016256750 11 May 2017 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

A DRAIN GRATE ASSEMBLY

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: ι 2016256750 11 May 2017

A DRAIN GRATE ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a drain grate assembly for building thresholds such as doors and windows.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] Drain grates are located adjacent building thresholds, such as doors and windows, to drain rainwater which may otherwise enter a building. The drain grate is generally installed internally or externally to the building, and adjacent a sill to which the door or window is mounted.

[0004] The preferred embodiment provides for improved installation of the drain grate assembly.

[0005] A known drain grate is inserted in a sump which, in turn, collects water passing through the grate. A drain extends from the sump to drain water away from the grate. In the event of a sudden downpour, the sump can overflow, especially in the event of a drain blockage which can occur from debris passing through the grate.

[0006] The preferred embodiment provides for less chance of sump overflow. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drain grate assembly for a building threshold, the assembly including: a drain grate including drainage holes arranged in two-dimensions; a sill for receiving and mounting at least one door or window; and a portable extruded holder for holding the drain grate and the sill, the drain grate and the sill being separate parts. 2 2016256750 11 May 2017 [0008] Advantageously, the portable holder may be readily installed in the flooring so as to effectively simultaneously install the held drain grate and sill. The drain grate and sill may be simply sat in the holder.

[0009] Preferably, the holder includes a sump for collecting water from the drain grate and the sill. Advantageously, the sump may collect more water than prior art sumps which collect water from the drain grate only thereby reducing the chance of sump overflow. Preferably, the assembly includes a drain beneath the sill, and not the grate which is more prone to passing debris. Advantageously, more water may be effectively drained compared with prior art sumps and with less chance of blockage issues owing to the increased water volume thereby further reducing the chance of sump overflow.

[00010] The collected water may pass through the sill. Advantageously, more water may pass through the sill than prior art systems. The collected water may pass through the grate. The sill may be wider than the drain grate.

[00011] The sump may define a partition for partitioning the drain grate and sill. The partition may define at least one water flow aperture through which water can flow.

[00012] The sump may define a drain grate receptacle for receiving the drain grate. The drain grate receptacle may include a pair of shelves upon which the drain grate rests. The sump may define a drain grate collection chamber beneath the drain grate receptacle.

[00013] The sump may define a sill receptacle for receiving the sill. The sill receptacle may include a pair of shelves upon which the sill rests. The sump may define a sill collection chamber beneath the sill receptacle. The sump may define a pair of fur seal holders for holding fur seals to locate the sill.

[00014] The sill may define at least one drainage aperture through which water can drain into the sump. The sill may define one or more receptacles for receiving respective doors or windows. The sill may define a pair of receptacles between outer rails. The rails may be tubular. Each receptacle may include at least one drainage aperture. 3 2016256750 11 May 2017 [00015] The grate and sill may sit flush in the sump. The assembly may sit flush with adjacent external and/or internal flooring.

[00016] The holder, sill and/or drain grate may be formed from aluminum. The sill and/or drain grate may be extruded. The assembly may be portable.

[00017] Preferably, the drain grate includes one or more drainage apertures through which water can drain. The drain grate may include a pair of legs. The drain grate maybe U-shaped. The drain grate may include parallel ribs.

[00018] The specification also discloses a portable extruded holder for holding both a building drain grate and a sill for mounting at least one door or window. The holder may include a sump.

[00019] The specification also discloses a building sill for mounting at least one door or window, the sill being adapted to be held in a portable holder along with a building drain grate.

[00020] The specification also discloses a building drain grate, the drain grate being adapted to be held in a portable holder along with a sill for mounting at least one door or window.

[00021] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00022] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: [00023] Figure 1 is an end perspective view of an installed building threshold drain grate assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 4 2016256750 11 May 2017 [00024] Figure 2 is a end view of the drain grate assembly of Figure 1; [00025] Figure 3 is an end perspective view of a sump of the drain grate assembly of

Figure 1; [00026] Figure 4 is a plan view of a drain grate of the assembly of Figure 1; and [00027] Figure 5 is an end perspective view of the building threshold drain grate assembly of Figure 1, with the top flooring installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a building threshold drain grate assembly 100 as shown in Figure 1. The assembly 100 includes a drain grate 102, and an adjacent sill 104 for mounting at least one door or window.

[00029] Furthermore, the assembly 100 includes a lower sump 106 for collecting water from the drain grate 102 and the sill 104. The portable sump 106 also functions as a holder for concurrently holding the drain grate 102 and the sill 104. Advantageously, the sump 106 can be readily installed in flooring 108 so as to effectively simultaneously install the held drain grate 102 and sill 104. The drain grate 102 and sill 104 can be simply sat in the sump 106 once it is in the flooring 108, in turn, including subflooring covered by a waterproof membrane. The flooring 108 also includes tiles or carpet (not shown) on the waterproof membrane.

[00030] Advantageously, the sump 106 collects more water than prior art sumps, which collect water from a drain grate only, thereby reducing the chance of sump overflow. The sump assembly 100 also includes a drain 110 beneath the sill 104, and not the grate 102 which is more prone to passing debris. Advantageously, more water can be effectively drained compared with prior art sumps, and with less chance of blockage issues owing to the increased water volume thereby further reducing the chance of sump overflow.

[00031] Turning to Figure 2, the sump 106 defines a wall partition 200 for partitioning the drain grate 102 and the sill 104. The partition 200 defines at least one water flow 5 2016256750 11 May 2017 slot 202 (i.e. aperture) through which water passing through the grate 102 can flow to the drain 110.

[00032] The sump 106 defines a drain grate receptacle 204 for receiving the drain grate 102. The drain grate receptacle 204 includes a pair of shelves 206a,b upon which the drain grate 102 rests so as to be flush with the sump 106. The sump 106 also defines a drain grate water collection chamber 208 beneath the drain grate receptacle 204.

[00033] The sump 106 also defines a sill receptacle 210 for receiving the sill 104. The sill receptacle 210 includes a pair of shelves 212a,b upon which the sill 104 rests so as to be flush with the sump 106. Further, the sump 106 defines a sill collection chamber 214 beneath the sill receptacle 210 for collecting water passing though the sill 104. In addition, the sump defines a pair of opposed fur seal holders 216 for holding fur seals 218 to locate the sill 104 in compression.

[00034] The sill 104 defines floor drainage slots 220 through which water can drain into the sump 106. Advantageously, the sill 104 (typically 50-150 mm wide) is wider than the drain grate 102 (typically 35-40mm wide) thereby having a greater water collection area, and more water passes through the silll 04 than prior art systems. Furthermore, the sump 106 is typically 100 to 200 mm wide thereby providing a greater water collection area than prior art systems. The sill also defines a pair of receptacles 222a,b, between outer tubular rails 224a,b, for receiving different types of respective doors or windows. The drainage slots 220 are located in each receptacle 222a,b.

[00035] The sump 106, sill 104 and drain grate 102 are all extruded from aluminum. As can best be seen in Figure 3, the extruded sump 106 defines a floor drainage aperture 300 which is cut after extrusion. Multiple small spaced apart slots 202 are provided so that water passes from the drain grate water collection chamber 208 to the drainage aperture 300, yet larger debris remains in the chamber 208. Accumulated debris in the chamber 208 can be readily removed by hand once the grate 102 is temporarily removed.

[00036] Turning to Figure 4, the drain grate 102 includes roof drainage slots 400 through which water can drain to the sump 106 below. Rows of slots 400 are located between protruding parallel ribs 402 that can be used to collect debris from footwear. 2016256750 11 May 2017 6

Returning to Figure 2, the drain grate 102 is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of downwardly extending legs.

[00037] A method for installing the portable assembly 100 is now briefly described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[00038] Initially, the flooring 108 and drain 110 are in place. The portable assembly 100 is situated in a recess of the sub-flooring 108, and flowcrete 250 is poured in the recess. The flowcrete 250 is smoothed to be flush with the top of the sub-flooring 108, and is allowed to set.

[00039] Upon the flowcrete 250 setting, Figure 5 shows that a top floor covering, such as tiles 500, can be glued with glue 502 on the sub-flooring 108 so that the assembly 100 sits flush with the adjacent external and internal overall flooring. Expansion strips 504 are placed between the sump 106 and the tiles 500. The grate 102 and sill 104 sit flush in the sump 106 so that there is a flat surface to avoid tripping.

[00040] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

[00041] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[00042] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A drain grate assembly for a building threshold, the assembly including: a drain grate including drainage holes arranged in two-dimensions; a sill for receiving and mounting at least one door or window; and a portable extruded holder for holding the drain grate and the sill, the drain grate and the sill being separate parts.

2. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drain grate and sill can be simply sat in the holder separately.

3. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the holder includes a sump for collecting water from the drain grate and the sill.

4. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly includes a drain beneath the sill, and not the grate which is more prone to passing debris.

5. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the collected water passes through the sill.

6. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the collected water passes through the grate.

7. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sill is wider than the drain grate.

8. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder defines a partition for partitioning the drain grate and sill.

9. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the partition defines at least one water flow aperture through which water can flow.

10. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder defines a drain grate receptacle for receiving the drain grate.

11. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the drain grate receptacle includes a pair of shelves upon which the drain grate rests.

12. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the holder defines a drain grate collection chamber beneath the drain grate receptacle.

13. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder defines a sill receptacle for receiving the sill.

14. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sill receptacle includes a pair of shelves upon which the sill rests.

15. A drain grate assembly as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the holder defines a sill collection chamber beneath the sill receptacle.

16. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder defines a pair of fur seal holders for holding fur seals to locate the sill.

17. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grate and sill sit flush in the holder.

18. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sill and/or drain grate are extruded; or the assembly is portable.

19. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grate include protruding members to facilitate removal of debris from footwear.

20. A drain grate assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drainage holes are arranged in rows and are offset slots.