CONTROLLING DRAINAGE ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority from United States patent application US62/200.651 for a "METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING DRAINAGE ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE" filed August 4, 2015, which application is incorporated by reference herein to the fullest extent permitted by law.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention is directed to ways to drain liquid such as water from a construction site, to reduce the likelihood or amount of damage.

2. Description of Related Art

On construction sites, buildings are generally erected from the bottom upward, each new storey resting on the one below.

The bottom-up workflow applies not just to structural tasks, but to finishing tasks as well. Thus for example, while forms are being built and concrete poured and cured on upper storeys, expensive fixtures and finishings might be being installed on lower storeys.

In erecting multi-storey buildings, it is common to place holes in the floor / ceiling between storeys, to provide passage for utility services that will be installed later, for example plumbing pipes, electrical conduits, heating ventilating and air conditioning ducts, and signal and control cables, for example network cables, alarm cables, or building system automation cables.

The holes between storeys can allow liquid from environmental (rain) or construction (hoses) sources to drain from the rough, exposed upper storeys to the expensively finished lower storeys, causing significant damage.

Conventionally, this risk has been managed in a number of ways.

One way has been to circumscribe each hole with a sufficiently high barrier, for example in the case of a concrete floor by building-up a temporary concrete ring that will be chipped away during finishing work. This approach requires labor to build-up and chip away each ring and risks damaging the concrete floor.

Another way has been to suspend a five-gallon pail below each hole to collect any liquid. Such a pail must be suspended from the ceiling or otherwise supported. The pail may be deployed together with a hose to drain-off the collected liquid to a safe location, for example a drain. This approach is cumbersome and can be unsafe, for example if a pail is precariously supported above workers.

Another way has been to clean, dry and prime the surface around each hole and then to place a peel-and-stick membrane over the hole. This approach can damage the surface of the floor surrounding the hole and does nothing to remove the liquid. Another way has been to deploy firestop cast-in devices, such as those offered by the Hilti Group, having headquarters in Schaan in the Principality of Liechtenstein. These devices are designed to resist the spread of fire from floor to floor through holes for passing utility services; however, depending on the device selected, some can also prevent the passage of liquid, in much the way as a circumscribing ring as described above. However, these non-reusable, permanently cast-in-place devices can be expensive, and so if they are not specified for a construction project, they may be a poor choice for this usage.

Accordingly, what is needed is a better way to safely redirect pooling liquid: a way that is relatively quick, easy and inexpensive to deploy and remove, and that can be removed with little risk of damaging the surrounding structure.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to this need.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drainage apparatus for use with a hole in a floor having a surface, the hole having an inside perimeter, the apparatus having a reservoir adapted to be received within the hole so as to lie flush with or below the surface of the floor and to form a liquid-resistant seal with the inside perimeter of the hole. The apparatus may be removable from the hole and may further include an exterior gasket and/or an annular flange adapted for improved sealing with the inside perimeter of the hole. The apparatus may further include a closure adapted to urge the reservoir to seal against the inside perimeter of the hole and the reservoir may include a fin adapted to permit outward deformation of the reservoir to seal against the inside perimeter of the hole. The closure may be operable from below the floor to urge the reservoir to seal against the inside perimeter of the hole.

The apparatus may further include a removable top cap and a removable bottom cap, sealingly connectable to the reservoir with the closure. One of the top cap and the bottom cap may be adapted to operate the closure. The top cap and bottom cap may have tapered diameters for press-fitting with the reservoir. The top cap may be perforated and include a radial spoke.

The apparatus may further include a drain, which may have a coupling and a guide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drainage method for use with a hole in a floor having a surface, the hole having an inside perimeter, the method comprising inserting a reservoir adapted to be received within the hole so as to lie flush with or below the surface of the floor and to form a liquid-resistant seal with the inside perimeter of the hole. The method may include removing the reservoir from the hole.

The method may further include sealing an exterior gasket or an annular flange on the reservoir against the inside perimeter of the hole. The method may also include fastening a closure to urge the reservoir to seal against the inside perimeter of the hole or deforming the reservoir to seal against the inside perimeter of the hole. In this regard, fastening the closure may include fastening the closure from below the floor.

Fastening the closure may also include sealingly connecting to the reservoir with the closure a removable top cap and a removable bottom cap. In this regard, fastening the closure may include fastening the closure with at least one of the top cap and the bottom cap. Sealingly connecting may include press- fitting at least one of the top cap and the bottom cap with the reservoir.

The method may further include perforating the top cap.

The method may further include draining the reservoir. In this regard, draining the reservoir may include draining the reservoir through the bottom cap, coupling a conduit to the reservoir to drain away from the reservoir, and guiding the conduit.

DESCRIPTION

The invention will be more fully illustrated by the following detailed description of non-limiting specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. In the figures, similar elements and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various elements of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar elements. If only the first reference label is identified in a particular passage of the detailed description, then that passage describes any one of the similar elements having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

1. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an oblique top view of one embodiment of a drainage apparatus according to aspects of the present invention, the drainage apparatus having a reservoir, a top cap, a bottom cap, and a closure.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the drainage apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an oblique top view of the top cap of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an oblique bottom view of the top cap of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an oblique bottom view of the bottom cap of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an oblique top view of the bottom cap of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an oblique bottom view of an alternative top cap and an oblique top view of an alternative bottom cap operable with the drainage apparatus of Figure 1.

2. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments

(a) Structure of Specific Embodiments

The structure of the invention will now be illustrated by explanation of specific, non-limiting, exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing figures and described in greater detail herein. Number Name Name Number

100 drainage apparatus alternative bottom cap 114a

102 reservoir alternative top cap 116a

104a exterior gasket annular flange 104b

104b annular flange bottom cap 114

106 fin closure 120

108 drain complementary fastener 124

110 coupling coupling 110

112 guide drain 108

114 bottom cap drainage apparatus 100

114a alternative bottom cap exterior gasket 104a

116 top cap fastener 122

116a alternative top cap fin 106

118 radial spoke guide 112

120 closure radial spoke 118

122 fastener reservoir 102

124 complementary fastener top cap 116

Figures 1 and 2 show a drainage apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, generally illustrated at 100, for resisting leakage of liquid at a construction site though a hole in a floor, for example a utility service hole. The drainage apparatus 100 includes a reservoir 102 adapted to be removably received within the hole so as to lie flush with or below the surface of the floor and to form a liquid-resistant seal with the inside perimeter of the hole, and thus adapted to receive liquid from the surface of the floor. In this regard, the top of the reservoir may have exterior gaskets 104a or annular flanges 104b for improved sealing with the inside perimeter of the hole.

As illustrated, the reservoir 102 may have tube-like characteristics, but need not be a fully conventional tube. For example, the outer perimeter of part of the reservoir 102 may be defined by fins 106 instead of tubular walls, to reduce material and mass, and as will be described further below, to promote deformation.

As illustrated, the drainage apparatus 100 may include a drain 108 in fluid communication with the reservoir 102, to drain liquid that has been received into the reservoir 102. The drain 108 may include a coupling 110, for example a hose coupling 110, for fluid communication with a hose or other conduit conveniently placed to convey liquid drained from the reservoir 102 to a desired location. The drainage apparatus 100 may further include a guide 112 to guide such hose or other conduit away from the drainage apparatus 100, for example resisting kinking. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the drain 108 and coupling 110 may reside on a removable bottom cap 114 adapted to seal the bottom of the reservoir 102.

Similarly, a removable top cap 116 may be adapted to seal with the top of the reservoir 102. As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the top cap 116 is perforated to guide or permit liquid from the surface of the floor into the reservoir 102. As illustrated, the top cap 116 includes radial spokes 118 adapted to transmit force outward from the centre of the top cap 116 toward the reservoir 102, as will be described further below. In this regard, and with reference to Figures 3 - 6, those skilled in the art will note that the bottom cap 114 and the top cap 116 have tapered diameters for press-fitting. Those skilled in the art will recognize that in some embodiments the bottom cap 114 or the top cap 116 or both may be integral with or otherwise not removable from the reservoir 102. Referring back to Figures 1 - 2, the drainage apparatus 100 may also include a closure 120 adapted to urge the reservoir 102 to seal against the inside perimeter of the hole and, should they be removable, urge the bottom cap 114 and top cap 116 to seal against the reservoir 102 so that liquid from the surface of the floor can enter through the perforated top cap 116 and exit through the drain 108 in the bottom cap 114.

In this regard, the closure 120 may include an elongated threaded fastener 122, for example a bolt, adapted to pass through the bottom cap 114, the reservoir 102 and the top cap 116, and a threaded complementary fastener 124, for example a nut, to in cooperation with the elongated threaded fastener 122 draw the bottom cap 114, the reservoir 102 and the top cap 116 sealingly together. The elongated threaded fastener 122 and one of the caps, as illustrated the bottom cap 114 as best seen in Figure 5, may be adapted to resist mutual rotation, so that the bottom cap 114 can function as a wrench to restrain the elongated threaded fastener 122 and thus obviate a wrench. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the elongated threaded fastener 122 and the bottom cap 114 should also seal to prevent unwanted escape of liquid from the reservoir 102. Those skilled in the art will recognize that in embodiments without a top cap 116, the fastener 122 and complimentary fastener 124 would be configured to draw the bottom cap 114 and the reservoir 102 sealingly together

As illustrated in Figure 7, an alternative top cap 116a and / or alternative bottom cap 114a may be deployed when a user wishes to deploy the apparatus 100 as a simple plug as opposed to a drain. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these alternative caps 114a, 116b are unperforated, except to sealingly accept and retain the closure 120.

(b) Operation of Specific Embodiments

A user would first identify any low point in a floor that coincides with a hole, such that liquid is likely to flow to that point and drain through the hole. In general, any such hole is likely to be a utility services hole and such holes by convention tend to have predetermined diameters that a drainage apparatus 100 can be conveniently manufactured to match.

Referring mainly to Figures 1 and 2, the user would select a matching drainage apparatus 100 and deploy it within the hole such that the reservoir 102, and if it existed in the embodiment, the top cap 116 lie flush with or below the surface of the floor. The user would then activate the closure 120, for example by tightening the threaded complementary fastener 124, to urge the exterior of the reservoir 102 against the inside perimeter of the hole to form a liquid- resistant seal, so as to receive any liquid from the surface of the floor. In this respect, the exterior gaskets 104a and/or annular flanges 104b may improve sealing with the inside perimeter of the hole.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the fins 106 permit outward deformation of the reservoir 102, particularly where the fins 106 are shallowest, at the top and bottom of the reservoir 102. Tightening of the threaded fasteners 122, 124 draws the tapered bottom cap 114 and tapered top cap 116 toward the reservoir 102 into sealing press-fit, but also urges the top of the reservoir 102 to seal against the inside perimeter of the hole.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in deploying an alternative embodiment of the drainage apparatus 100 wherein the threaded complementary fastener 124 is located adjacent to the bottom cap 114, a user might completely install and connect the drainage apparatus from the storey below.

If the drainage apparatus 100 included a drain 108, for example with a coupling 110, then from below the floor, for example the storey below, the user would connect a hose or other conduit to the coupling 110 to direct liquid drained from the reservoir 102 to a desired safe location, perhaps making use of the guide 112 if present.

When the drainage apparatus 100 is no longer required, for example when utility services are to be deployed, the user can remove it simply by disconnecting any hose or other conduit from the coupling 110 and then releasing the closure 120 and easing the drainage apparatus 100 out of the hole.

In an alternative deployment, the user would substitute the alternative bottom cap 114a and / or alternative top cap 116a so as to operate the apparatus 100 as a plug instead of a drain. (c) Description Summary

Thus, it will be seen from the foregoing embodiments and examples that there has been described a way to safely redirect pooling liquid: a way that is relatively quick, easy and inexpensive to deploy and remove, and that can be removed with little risk of damaging the surrounding structure.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention. In particular, all quantities described have been determined empirically and those skilled in the art might well expect a wide range of values surrounding those described to provide similarly beneficial results.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications and substitutions can be made to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the principle and scope of the invention expressed herein.

While the invention has been described as having particular application for construction, those skilled in the art will recognize it has wider application.