GB2351992A

GB2351992A - Drainage channels

Info

Publication number: GB2351992A
Application number: GB9916788A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Andrew Hatcher
Original assignee: Aco Technologies PLC
Current assignee: Aco Technologies PLC
Priority date: 1999-07-16
Filing date: 1999-07-16
Publication date: 2001-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-16
Also published as: GB9916788D0; GB2351992B

Abstract

A U-shaped open-mouthed plastics drainage channel (2) has extruded hollow side walls (4) reinforced by ribs (6). Bracing clips (40) are installed at intervals along the channel and have formations (16) that engage beneath flanges (12). The clips (40) have prongs (50) which interlock with depending legs (34) of the grid (30) to lock it in position closing the open mouth of the channel (2). The clips act to brace the channel as well as hold the grid in place.

Description

2351992 Drainage Channels

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to plastics drainage channels and more specifically to Ushaped channels that are intended to be let into a surface and are closed by means of a 5 slotted grid.

U-shaped open-mouthed drainage channels are frequently constructed from rigid materials such as polymer concrete or stainless steel. With these channels a variety of mechanisms have been used to fit a removable slotted grid to the open mouth of the channel so that the grid lies in the plane of the surface to be drained.

For interior and light duty applications and situations where noncorrosive fluids are to be drained, for example, in domestic driveways, it is proposed to use plastics in place of the heavier rigid materials. The present invention accordingly provides an extruded plastics U-shaped open-mouthed channel which has the advantage of much reduced weight making for easier installation. A plastics structure is inevitably more flexible and it is not possible to rely on the side walls of the channel to support a grid as these walls are liable to flex apart under loading. The installation of a plastics drainage channel into a concrete haunch may also result in the side walls being pushed inwardly. Even after installation is complete traffic movements and ground movements will act on the channel side walls attempting to push them inwards. There is, therefore, a technical problem of maintaining the structural integrity of the plastics drainage channel in use as well as the technical problem of securing the grid in the open mouth of the channel.

The present invention provides a solution to both these technical problems by the pro-vision of a bracing clip for use with a plastics drainage channel having an open mouth to which a slotted grid is to be fitted; the clip comprising means for bracing the channel 2 and means for the supporting the slotted grid.

More specifically, the present invention provides a clip for use with a plastics drainage channel having an open mouth to which a slotted grid is to be fitted; the clip comprising an elongate member having a clip formation at each end to clip to a corresponding S formation in a side wall of the plastics drainage channel profile, the member supporting a pair of upwardly projecting prongs adjacent each end adapted to interlock with respective depending legs of the slotted grid.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be 10 described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure I shows an exploded perspective view of the channel showing two of the bracing clips of the invention and a slotted grid; Figure 2 shows a sectioned perspective view through a clip in an assembled is channel and grid; Figure 3 shows a section through a clip in an assembled channel and grid; and Figure 4 is a section through a bracing clip in a relaxed state.

The drainage channel assembly is formed from channels 2 having bracing clips 40 fitted along their length in order to lock a slotted metal grid 30 in the open mouth of the 20 channel.

A U-shaped open-mouthed plastics drainage channel 2 is best shown in Figure 3. The channel 2 is extruded in one piece in order to define a profile having hollow side walls 4 3 reinforced by internal transverse ribs 6. The channel has a thin single layer base 8. The side walls 4 are hollow to give greater strength against vertical loading. The arrangement of transverse ribs 6 provides flexural rigidity.

An inner wall layer 10 of lower part of the channel 2 defines a smooth U shape to assist free flow of fluid within the channel. At each side a free edge of the inner wall layer 10 terminates in an L shaped flange 12 beneath the mouth of the channel. A free limb 14 of the L shaped flange 12 is spaced from and projects towards a remainder of the side wall 4 in order to define a clip formation 16.

The side walls 4 terminate in an upstanding edge 20 adjacent a broad horizontal shoulder 22 defining the open mouth of the channel. This shoulder 22 is spaced above the aligned clip formations 16 in each side wall 4.

It will be appreciated that various designs of transverse ribs 6 may be provided depending on the size and capacity of the channel, A slotted metal grid 30 is formed from folded and rolled stainless steel into which a pattern of slots has been punched. Each edge 32 of the grid is defined by a double folded layer of metal that forms a rigid edge to seat on the shoulders 22 at the open mouth of the channel 2. The edges of the metal grid then form respective depending legs 34. The end portions 36 of the legs 34 are inclined inwardly towards the centre of the channel.

Bracing clips 40 are introduced into the channel at intervals as shown in Figure 1. These clips 40 brace the side walls 4 of the channel 2 in position and also support prongs 50 which interlock with the depending legs 34 of the slotted grid 30 to hold the grid 30 removably in position in the mouth of the channel.

Each clip 40 may be a moulded or extruded plastics member. The clip 40 is essentially a locking bar or elongate clip member 42 having clip formations 4-4 at each end to engage 4 with the corresponding clip formations 16 formed in the side walls 4 of the channel 2. Each clip formation 44 is formed by an end of the clip member 42 terminating in an inwardly facing recess 46 below the clip member 42. These recesses 46 are adapted to receive the free limb 14 of the L shaped flanges 16 of the plastics drainage channel.

S The material of the member and the side walls of the channel is sufficiently flexible to allow the clips to be snapped into position with both clip formations 16 of the channel 2 before the channel 2 is installed in a haunch which will prevent the side walls 4 of the channel flexing outwardly. Once installed the bracing clips 40 are difficult to remove and resist inward movement of the side walls 4 in response to loading of the channel. 10 The prongs 50 are integrally moulded or extruded with the rest of the bracing clip 40. In its relaxed state as shown in Figure 4, each prong 50 is inclined at an acute angle, for example 73.5' to an upper surface of the clip member 42 and is set inwardly of the ends. A root S2 of the prong 50 is aligned with an end of the respective end portion 36 of a leg 34 of the slotted grid 30 installed in the mouth of the channel, Each prong SO terminates 15 in a V- shaped formation 54 which is formed to interlock with a respective depending leg 34. When interlocked with a leg 34, an apex of the V 54 seats in a junction of the end portion 36 and a vertical portion of the leg 34 as shown in Figure 3. The drainage channel that has been described is easily assembled. The channel sections are cut to appropriate lengths and the bracing clips fitted at spaced intervals of, say, 20 300mm. Appropriate drain pipes 60 are fitted according to the design of the drainage system being created. The channels are then installed in a supporting concrete haunch in a conventional manner. Lengths of slotted grid 30 are then push fitted to close the open mouths of the channels. As the grids 30 are installed the end portions of the depending legs 34 push the prongs 50 inwardly. When the grids are seated the V-shaped formations 25 54 flex back to seat against the legs 34- and interlock therewith holding the grid 30 firmly in position.

Claims

1 A U-shaped open-mouthed plastics drainage channel extruded in one piece in order to define a profile having hollow side walls reinforced by internal transverse ribs, a profile of the channel defining a pair of aligned clip formations in each side wall beneath the mouth of the channel. 2. A channel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip formations comprise L shaped flanges inwardly of and spaced from a remainder of the side wall. 3. A bracing clip for use with a plastics drainage channel having an open mouth to which a slotted grid is to be fitted; the clip comprising means for holding it in 10 position across the channel and means for the supporting the slotted grid. 4. A bracing clip as claimed in claim 3, comprising an elongate member having a clip formation at each end to clip to a corresponding formation in a side wall of the plastics drainage channel profile, the member supporting a pair of upwardly projecting prongs adjacent each end adapted to interlock with respective 15 depending legs of the slotted grid. S. A clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clip formations on the elongate member comprise means defining inwardly, facing recesses adapted to receive an L shaped flange of the plastics drainage channel. 6. A U-shaped open-mouthed plastics drainage channel extruded in one piece 20 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying dra-wings. 7. A bracing clip substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A drainage channel comprising a U-shaped open-mouthed plastics channel extruded in one piece in order to define a profile having hollow side walls reinforced by internal transverse ribs, a profile of the channel defining a pair of aligned clip formations in each side wall beneath the mouth of the channel, a slotted grid adapted to be fitted to close the open mouth of the channel; and at least one bracing clip comprising means for holding it in position across the channel in engagement with the aligned clip formations in order to hold the side walls apart and means for the supporting the slotted grid.

2, A channel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip formations comprise L shaped flanges inwardly of and spaced from a remainder of the side wall.

3. A channel as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the or each bracing clip comprises an elongate member having a clip formation at each end to clip to the corresponding formation in the side wall of the plastics drainage channel profile, the means for the supporting the slotted grid comprising a pair of upwardly projecting prongs supported on the member adjacent each end adapted to interlock with respective depending legs of the slotted grid.

4. A channel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clip formations on the elongate member comprise means defining inwardly facing recesses adapted to receive an L shaped flange of the plastics drainage channel.

5. A drainage channel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Document #: 1522695