Drain Assembly for Use in an Outdoor Setting

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/535,135, filed on Dec. 11, 2023 and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, issuing on Jun. 10, 2025 as U.S. Pat. No. 12,325,970, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/815,257 filed on Jul. 27, 2022 and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, which issued on Dec. 12, 2023 as U.S. Pat. No. 11,840,819, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/722,366 filed on Dec. 20, 2019 and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,512,444 on Nov. 29, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/367,533 filed on Dec. 2, 2016, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,519,619 on Dec. 31, 2019, and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, which is a continuation of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US15/33854 filed on Jun. 2, 2015 and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/561,822 filed on Dec. 5, 2014, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,045,874 on Jun. 2, 2015, and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/032,508 filed on Aug. 1, 2014 and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/007,399 filed on Jun. 3, 2014 and entitled “DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING”, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

This application is directed towards a drain assembly for use in an outdoor setting, and, more particularly, towards a drain assembly for use as an easy to inspect, test, clean and maintain alternative to French drains and for use with other water management settings and situations.

French Drains are used by many landscapers and builders as a method to collect standing water and run-off, as well as underground water from lawns and fields or near foundations to move the water to a more desirable area. French drains can also be used as a method for dispersing and filtering water on-site through soil, as with septic systems.

French drains are also used to capture run-off and prevent soil erosion. French drains are commonly constructed in a trench with perforated pipe lying along the trench bottom. The perforated pipe is surrounded by gravel, styro-foam nuggets or poly-stone with or without fabric filter material lining the trench and/or encasing all or parts of the system.

Air spaces and voids between stones fill in with soil due to soiled water flowing into them over time. The pipes can also collapse, fill with roots and sediment and can become clogged over time, sometimes within one or two years. Foundation drains clog often without the home owner's knowledge and cause a host of foundation problems including uneven settling, cracking, water damage, and the like. The gravel provides air space to allow the water to pass through into the pipe to be carried away or out of the pipe to leach into the soil. The filtering gravel and pipe eventually become clogged due to the muddy, dirty water, roots, and sewage solids that seeps into or out of them. Checking the French drain gravel for clogging or a low flow situation is difficult without digging up the gravel and sometimes the drain. The gravel is then replaced or cleaned and reinstalled, yet further clogging of the drain is likely.

Accordingly, a product or method for addressing these issues is desired.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Disclosed herein is a drain assembly for being placed underground. The assembly includes a first panel and a second panel spaced-apart from the first panel, a plurality of supports extending between the first panel and the second panel with or without a bottom extending between a bottom portion of the first panel and the second panel, and a cap extending between a top portion of the first panel and the second panel. The first panel defines a plurality of drainage apertures. In one or more other embodiments, the panel can include notches at a bottom portion or other desired area.

According to one or more embodiments, the plurality of supports include one or more spacers or pins extending from an inner surface of the first panel to an inner surface of the second panel.

According to one or more embodiments, the bottom defines one of a basin for directing channeled liquid flow or a pipe receiving area for receiving a pipe for directing channeled liquid flow or a gravel bottom may be desired.

According to one or more embodiments, respective ends of the first panel and the second panel are configured for pivoting movement to engage a respective second drain assembly thereto. The ends may have accompanying fittings or couplings.

According to one or more embodiments, the cap is selectively engageable with the first and second panel.

According to one or more embodiments, a second assembly may be positioned into engagement with a top portion of the first panel and the second panel when the cap is selectively disengaged. These assemblies may be stacked horizontally or connected vertically.

According to one or more embodiments, the apparatus includes a filter material positioned between the first panel and the second panel.

According to one or more embodiments, the second panel is water impermeable.

According to one or more embodiments, the assembly is configured for being in fluid engagement with a downspout of a gutter system.

According to one or more embodiments, the assembly includes one of a water level sensor, moisture sensor, or temperature sensor positioned between the first panel and the second panel. A fan may also be provided for blowing or pulling air.

In one or more embodiments, the assembly may act as a conduit for passing liquid, air, heated air, cooled air, and the like.

According to one or more embodiments, the assembly includes a locator wire.

According to one or more embodiments, a method for providing drainage to an area is provided. The method includes providing a drain assembly disclosed herein, placing the assembly into the void, and filling the volume of the void outside of the drain assembly.

According to one or more embodiments, the method includes providing a filter fabric around the exterior of the assembly before filling the volume.

According to one or more embodiments, the method includes attaching a second assembly to an end of the first assembly to create a length of attached assemblies.

According to one or more embodiments, the method includes attaching a second assembly to a top of the first assembly to create a height of attached assemblies.

According to one or more embodiments, the method includes placing a drainage pipe in the bottom of the assembly.

The presently disclosed subject matter is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventor has contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step” may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.

illustrates a perspective view of a drain assembly that is generally designatedand that is configured for being placed undergroundwithin a voidor interior space defining an air space. The drain assemblymay include a first paneland a second panelspaced-apart from the first panel. A plurality of supportsmay extend between the first paneland the second panel. With additional reference to, a bottommay extend between a bottom portion of the first paneland a bottom portion of the second panel. A capmay extend between a top portion of the first paneland a top portion of the second panel. One or more of the panels,may define a plurality of drainage apertures.

Panels without any holes, apertures, or other openings may be used, In this embodiment, water can enter through apertures in the cap but roots or other debris cannot enter the drain panel system. This aspect can sit on top of any pipe to convert a pipe into a surface drain without obstructing water flow inside of the pipe line (as with a basin drain where installation may require cutting into the pipe to install the basin or may require a fitting/fittings to tie the basin in to the system). A drain can be added to an existing pipe system by digging away or otherwise removing dirt from around an existing pipe, drilling holes into the top of the pipe, and installing panels of appropriate height on top of the pipe then backfilling around the panels so the perforated cap is positioned in a low area of a property to receive water.

The panels may be flexible in nature such that the panel/panels can be flared out at a bottom portion thereof. The panels may also fully or partially encapsulate any pipe. This allows for a pipe with holes/apertures drilled all the way around the pipe to be protected, maintained and inspected inside the medial space. The panels may also be formed in part with trifluralin.

The assemblyis illustrated being installed within voidthat is defined within the underground. The voidor interior or air space may be formed by any appropriate manner of excavation and may be positioned proximal a structure such as a residential or commercial building or in a drainage field or any other appropriate place. In the one or more instances where the voidmay be placed near a structure, only one of panels,may be provided with drainage aperturessuch that the other panel remains water impermeable. For example, panelmay be closely spaced with the building and generally impermeable whereas panelmay be permeable. Rocks, a decorative cap, or other fill materialmay be employed for covering assemblyonce installed. Panels,may be formed of any appropriately configured material, including a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride or other plastics, resins, and the like. While aperturesare illustrated in the drawings as generally circular voids, aperturesmay be slots or other configurations, or may alternatively be semi-porous and porous structures. Panels,could employ a porous material to allow flowthrough of liquid in desired embodiments.

The plurality of supportsmay include one or more pins extending from an inner surface of the first panelto an inner surface of the second panel. The supportsmay include any appropriately configured spacer of any appropriately configured shape. Alternatively, panels,or the assemblymay have enough rigidity that supportsare not required in one or more embodiments.

The bottomdefines one of a basin() for directing channeled liquid flow or a pipe receiving area for receiving a pipe() for directing channeled liquid flow. Pipemay have one or more apertures for collecting water in the void between panelsand. Pipemay also have no apertures in one or more embodiments. Pipemay also be fluidly connected to a gutter downspout assembly, an additional drain assembly such as a French drain, an irrigation system, or the like. Alternatively, the bottommay be exposed to an underlying ground surface such that collected liquid can permeate into the underlying ground surface.

As illustrated inand, in one or more embodiments, respective ends of the first paneland the second panelare configured for engaging a respective second drain assembly′ thereto. This engagement may include a receiverand a pinfor interconnecting respecting assemblies. In this manner, multiple assemblies can be formed lengthwise. Alternatively, respective and adjacent assemblies could also be joined in other manners, such as glue, welding, fasteners, and the like. Snapping together of assemblies may also be provided.

The capis selectively engageable, meaning separable, with the first paneland the second panel. The capmay be selectively disengaged with assembly, and a second assembly′ may be positioned into engagement with a top portion of the first paneland the second panelas illustrated in. The capmay be a porous material or an impermeable material. The capmay define a portion of porous material that grass or other vegetation could grow into and/or over the top of. Additionally, an end cap (not illustrated) could be provided for encapsulating the end of an assembly.

As one illustrative embodiment, a filter materialis illustrated inand is positioned directly below the top cap for easy removal or in the drain line vertically between the first paneland the second panel. The filter materialmay be provided for filtering water or other liquids before they pass into drainage pipe. Filter materialand/or insulation material may be used to insulate the drainage void to keep the foundation from freezing as well as the geothermal factor. In one or more embodiments, a sensormay be provided. The sensormay be positioned between the first paneland the second panelin one or more embodiments. The sensormay be configured for providing selective determination of the water level, moisture, or temperature within the assemblyand may be configured to communicate a level reading to one or more monitoring systems. In this manner, the sensormay be a water level sensor, a moisture or humidity sensor, or a temperature sensor. In one or more embodiments, a locator wireor other metallic/ferrous material may be provided along a length of the assemblyin order to help locate the assemblyunderground at a later time when digging, excavating, or the like may be desired. A fan or blower may also be provided within the spacing for pushing or pulling air through the assembly. Alternatively, capmay be ferrous so as to provide the locating characteristics of the locating wire and may be removable.

The assemblymay come as a kit in which unassembled panels,, supports, caps, and the like are provided. In this manner, an installer can choose a panel of a desired size, a support of a desired size, and the like to produce an assembled unit of desired size and geometry. The panels,may be shaped to size by the operator and may be configured for being cut by a saw, knife, or the like. One such embodiment is shown inin which a first assemblyis shown having the same general construction as that one shown in, whereas assembly′ is shown being formed for fitting around a footerof a house. Masonry wall or foundation wall is represented by element. Assembly″ is shown having a shorter height than assembly, and this may be as a result of the operator cutting panels,to a shorter length, which may require new end-to-end connectors or top panel to bottom panel connectors. Furthermore, assembly″ is shown with an angled capthat is caused by the inner panel being a greater height than the outer panel. Alternatively, the capmay define a top angled surface for channeling water. Thus, the angled capalso provides for water drainage. In order to connect height-wise multiple assemblies, a hookmay extend from the bottom portion of an assembly′ and is received within a recessformed on a top portion of an adjacent assembly. Alternatively, an “H” channel connector system may be employed. In, the hook may or may not be necessary on one or both or either side.

The spacers may be pre-made tapered spacers (such as having an hourglass shape) that can be used to achieve the spaced-apart relationship.

With further reference to, wallof the house is illustrated and flooris also illustrated, which may be a basement subfloor or any other subfloor that is also provided. In the embodiment illustrated in, assemblyincludes wall, which is impermeable along with bottom. Collectively, walland bottomform a “J” shaped impermeable panel.

An alternate construction is illustrated inandin which an assemblyis provided. The assemblymay include one or more longitudinal supportsand cross barsthat form the frame assembly. The assemblyis configured for being placed into a void in an upright orientation (such as is shown in) or into the void of drain assembly. In this matter, the assemblyprovides a means of allowing panels to be bent around curves or a radius, then inserting bracing as shown in. Panelsandmay thus be bent or otherwise curved. One side panel such ascan also be used with a flat panel to create curves.

Similarly, assembly,′, and″ are illustrated in a curved panel′,′ construction in. The curved panels′ and′ are connected with assemblyto form one elongate structure.

As illustrated in, curvable top cap assemblies,′, and″ may be formed such that an entire structure of curvable assemblies can be formed. As illustrated in, an alternate cap assemblymay be provided where the cap assemblyis also resilient to allow for curving characteristics of the assembly shown in. In this manner, the side panels may be curvable and supports,′,″, etc are placed within the curvable panels to provide sufficient support while also allowing for curvature of the assembled device. This illustration is an example of the curvable top-cap assembly.

illustrates an end view of a drain assemblyhaving a removable top cap, that is also part of, that is attached to a permeable capextending across panelsand. In this embodiment, supportis shown between panelsand. The capis attached to permeable capby a fasteneror any other appropriate attachment mechanism. In this manner, when the panelsandhave been placed into the ground, supportis inserted and then the capis affixed to cover the assembly. Capmay be permeable, impermeable, include aesthetic or ornamental features as described with other embodiments disclosed herein.

illustrates a plurality of drain assemblies,′, and″ that are interconnected and formed along a slope of land. The drain assemblies are provided in step-down arrangement such that when the water level WL in a respective drain assemblyrises enough to exceed an endof the assembly, water can flow into the next assembly′. In this manner, the end capof assemblyis water impermeable. This arrangement allows for liquid to flow out of the bottom of the assemblyin a slower rate and can allow for more even dispersement of liquids on a person's property, for example, as opposed to the majority of liquid dispersing only at the end of a drain pipe. This provides irrigation benefits and structural benefits since soils will not become water-logged as well as filtering water through soil. The end assemblyand outlet tee couplingextending from pipe′ as illustrated inmay extend from any drain assembly described herein. End assemblymay include one or more drainage apertures and an open bottomfor allowing flow-through of water into the surrounding ground surface.

illustrates a top view of one or more connected assemblies,for use with the drain assembliesdescribed herein. Indeed, a grated top capmay replace top capin one or more embodiments. A connector pipe/drain pipecan connect with the assemblyfrom a side into a coupler, which is further coupled to a drainage assemblyor drain assembly. This embodiment is illustrated to show that an assemblymay be used as a drain pipe discharge location. An end cap may also be provided.

One or more methods of using the one or more drainage assemblies disclosed herein are provided. The one or more methods include forming a void in the ground. The void may be formed by excavation or the like. The void depth may be determined by selecting a drain assemblyof a certain height, and then forming a void having a depth that is of a predetermined height larger than the certain height. The method may include placing the assembly into the void. Void may be voidas illustrated in. The remaining volume of the void may be filled with one or more materials. The one or more materials may include a homogenous mixture of soil, rocks of various granularities, and the like, or may include a heterogeneous mixture of the same or layers of various materials.

In one or more embodiments, the method may include providing a filter fabricor other root inhibitor around the exterior of the assembly before filling the volume. The filter fabric may be positioned against the assembly or against the void. The filter fabric may be provided for filtering out sediment and the like. The root inhibitor could also be built into panels.

In one or more embodiments, the method may include attaching a second assembly to an end of the first assembly to create a length of attached assemblies. The method may include attaching additional assemblies as desired. This method may include attaching a second assembly to a top of the first assembly to create a height of attached assemblies. In instances where a drainage pipe such as pipeis placed within the assembly, the method may include attaching respective drainage pipes in a respective assembly to form a length of fluidly connected pipes.

The one or more assemblies and systems disclosed herein may also have use as an add on for septic field use or as a replacement for French drain components in septic fields.

As illustrated in the diagrammatic view of, drain assembliesmay be positioned around the block or wallsof a basementor crawl space of a house. The assembliesare thus used as geothermal duct work, pumping air through the panels installed around foundations would add moisture and relatively fixed temperature air to a heating and air system that would be equipped with the proper, adequate filtration apparatus. As illustrated, air flow (represented by directional arrows) could flow within the assembliesvia fan or blowerpulling air through an inletpulling in air into the HVAC. A separator/dividermay be provided between the air flows. Back fill is represented by. One or more methods for providing air circulation around a footer is thus provided. In a septic application, panels may be placed on their sides or upright.

These assemblies would be used to construct exterior forms for concrete poured walls and the external drain assemblies would remain in place as the waterproofing system, or they could be installed around existing foundation walls as a means of improving the waterproofing. They would not need to go all the way down to the footer and could just go part way down (1, 2 or 4.3′, for example). These assemblies would stay in place on the outside of a poured wall or masonry unit [cinder block] wall foundation. These assemblieswould create an interior space defining air space″ between the foundation wall/footer and the back filled soil or gravel so the wall drainage void could be easily accessed for inspection, testing, and cleaning by removing the top cap (which could be insulated) which would go around the perimeter of the waterproofed foundation from the base of the footer up to the grade level. The installed panels could act as an exterior form as well as the foundation walls waterproofing system. This system would allow water to pass into the drain panels on one side but not through the other impermeable side where the water could then run down into a drain pipe or trough to be carried away.

These systems thus provide a manner of using panels for use as forms for concrete poured walls and leaving the exterior panels in place against foundation walls, thereby eliminating the need for form stripping.