Road structure – process – or apparatus – Drain or gutter – Street or curb inlet for surface drainage
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-05-22
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Drain or gutter
Street or curb inlet for surface drainage
C404S002000, C052S019000, C052S020000, C249S002000, C249S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234711
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drain outlets for public streets and roadways. More particularly, the present invention relates to a curb and gutter frame and funnel drain structure that may be installed in conjunction with standard concrete curb and gutter forms and that can be adapted to accommodate a variety of underground drain pipe configurations.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art representatively shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, standard cast iron grates
100
and frames
102
are installed with curbs and gutters in a two-step process. Prior to the pouring of the curb
104
, brick masons construct a masonry chimney
106
directly over the drain pipe
108
for each frame and grate. When the appropriate elevation of each masonry chimney
106
is reached, a cast iron frame
102
and grate
100
is mounted thereon. When this work is completed, the standard curb and gutter forms are set around the frame and grate. Because this work is done in two steps, it is difficult to match the elevations of the masonry work with the drain slopes.
Furthermore, when pouring the concrete in the curb form, a section of the form must be left open on either side of the frame and grate due to the fact that a standard curb and gutter paving machine cannot pave over the previously installed cast iron frame and grate. As a result, the sections
110
on either side of the frame
102
and grate
100
must be hand troweled in by a later process. This not only incurs additional labor and expense, but also creates an expansion joint
112
in the paving near the grate. This joint near the grate is often a weak area that may separate under heavy loads.
Representative prior art is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 329,404, 783,740, 1,473,551, 1,664,853, 2,537,654, 2,809,414, 4,610,566, and 4,986,693.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece curb and gutter frame and funnel drain that can be installed directly in a standard concrete curb and gutter form with the frame having the same upper profile as the form, enabling a standard curb and gutter paving machine to pour the curb with the frame and funnel drain in place in the form, thus eliminating the need to hand trowel on either side of the curb and gutter frame.
Another object of the invention is a frame and grate that may be installed without prior concrete work or preparation, and which can be installed concurrently with pouring of the curb and gutter.
A further object of the invention is a curb and gutter funnel drain oriented in non-vertical alignment with the frame and grate, allowing future repair to the drain without disturbance to the adjacent street and curb.
A still further object of the invention is a frame and funnel drain structure that can be adapted to accommodate a variety of drain pipe connection configurations.
In accordance with the foregoing and other objects, the present invention comprises a metal frame and funnel drain fabricated into a single welded structure. The funnel drain can be constructed in a number of ways so as to accommodate any type or shape of curb and gutter funnel outlet. The funnel drain is compatible with a full line of bolt-on attachments, including elbows, funnel extensions and saddle fittings, which connect to each other with standard corrugated metal pipe hugger bands. Through selection and adjustment of these attachments, the funnel drain may be effectively connected to a variety of drain pipe configurations, including those offset so as to be out of vertical alignment with the frame.
In addition to the adaptability of the configuration of the one-piece frame and funnel drain to fit various pipe orientations, the one-piece frame and funnel drain of the present invention also offers advantages in installation. The one-piece frame and funnel drain may be installed within any standard curb and gutter form. When installed in a curb and gutter form of the same style as the frame, a standard curb and gutter paving machine can pave directly up to the side panels of the frame. Furthermore, no preparatory concrete work is required to install the frame and funnel drain unit. Instead, concrete is poured with the one-piece unit in the form, so that curb and gutter installation and drain pipe installation may be accomplished simultaneously, saving both time and money over prior art methods.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 125118 (1872-04-01), Chase et al.
patent: 329404 (1885-10-01), McConnell
patent: 783740 (1905-02-01), Barker
patent: 1473551 (1923-11-01), Gschwind
patent: 1664853 (1928-04-01), Firth
patent: 2518620 (1950-08-01), Hughes
patent: 2537654 (1951-01-01), Curnutte
patent: 2809414 (1957-10-01), Mitchell
patent: 3347514 (1967-10-01), Yates
patent: 3436051 (1969-04-01), Nakahara
patent: 3844073 (1974-10-01), Peletz
patent: 4061434 (1977-12-01), Carroll
patent: 4192625 (1980-03-01), Peletz
patent: 4241543 (1980-12-01), Foscarini et al.
patent: 4321024 (1982-03-01), Terraillon
patent: 4610566 (1986-09-01), Albang et al.
patent: 4637585 (1987-01-01), Picollo
patent: 4844403 (1989-07-01), Castle
patent: 4957268 (1990-09-01), Picollo et al.
patent: 4986693 (1991-01-01), Salberg et al.
patent: 5720467 (1998-02-01), Del Zotto
Hartmann Gary S.
Jacobson Price Holman & Stern PLLC
Will Thomas B.
LandOfFree
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