Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
METHOD FOR DRAINAGE OF WATER AROUND SUBTERRANEAN
STRUCTURES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is related to method for drainage of water around
the
subterranean structures. There are many ways currently on the market to drain
water
away from foundations; almost all of them are expensive.
For example, one could place a drainage pipe on the outside of a footer of a
foundation
wall. One such example is shown in Clay et al. U.S. Patent No. 5,836,115. This
patent
provides a drain pipe on the outside of the footer (along with a liner that
forms a drainage
trench) which will evacuate the water. This is very extensive procedure
involving
expensive heavy machinery to excavate and backfill around the complete
structure all the
way to the bottom of the footer. Installing a perimeter drain pipe is an
expensive way to
drain the perimeter water from the outside of the wall especially when the
drain is usually
6 to 8 feet below grade.
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Another method of the drainage of foundation water is to place a similar drain
pipe on
the inside of the footer of a foundation wall. This usually involves jack
hammering up the
perimeter of the slab, hauling away all of the rubble, and placing a drainage
pipe around
the perimeter of the basement floor that will drain to a sump pit with a pump.
This is also
a very expensive and laborious procedure that involves skilled construction
workers.
Another common method to stop water penetration of the foundation slab and
wall is to
install a wall membrane. One such example is shown in Sacks U.S. Patent No.
5,826,390.
This patent involves a wall membrane to drain water downward to a drain pipe
away
from the wall. Again, this method is very expensive and involves heavy
machinery,
skilled contractors, and a substantial cost.
There also have been some patents on drainage cells that either overlap or
claim to be
interlocking, but if a sealant in a joint fails or the interlocking mechanism
is not
manufactured to a certain tolerances, they will leak. An example is shown in
Lee U.S.
Patent No. 6,736,569. This patent involves a drainage cell that fits together
with a "male"
and "female" connection. However, if the drainage cell is not manufactured to
certain
tolerances, water will find a way to leak thru the material.
Many homeowners put down some type of thick plastic to protect their
foundations, but
in time, many of the plants and weeds break penetrate the barrier they have
placed under
the soil, rendering the barrier useless.
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages of prior art, the general purpose of
this present
invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to
provide for
inexpensive drainage of water that can penetrate a foundation wall and slab.
The present invention is comprised of subterranean modular panels that are
interlocking
by various means (including a double standing seam) to each other. The modular
panels
can be connected to a drainage pipe and the water collected by the drainage
pipe can then
be drained away from the structure or the water could be simply drained to a
French drain
in the ground distant from the wall, thereby protecting the foundation wall of
a building
from water.
The principal advantage of this invention is the double standing seam modular
panel
system which is one of the only ways that four modular panels can be connected
together
and will always be leak proof provided that the water can be drained off by
gravity in a
timely manner. With just a standard single standing seam joint, four exactly
the same or
modular panels can not be attached together to form a leak proof seal in a
modular
fashion.
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Another advantage is that the modular panels are easy and inexpensive to
install and
can be manufactured cheaply. Expensive equipment and skilled contractors are
not
needed and most homeowners can install the modular panels themselves. The
homeowners could easily dig out 8 inches or more below grade where the
subterranean
modular panels will be placed. At most, a homeowner may buy or rent an
inexpensive
garden tiller which could automatically break up the top 8 inches or more of
soil, and
simply lay the interlocking modular panels down and back fill on top of the
modular
panels.
Another advantage of the modular panels, is that they are made out of
materials that are
non-rusting (material could include plastic, including pvc, hdpe etc.) and are
impermeable to tree and plant roots by the nature of the modular panel's
hardness and
thickness.
Another advantage of the modular panels is that they may be cut and are
modular and
may be connected to each other to extend endlessly the length and width of the
modular
panels.
Another advantage of the modular panels is you can just use them on one face
of your
building where water is a problem and you don't have to use them on all the
other sides a
structure as you sometimes do when you use drain pipe placed at the footer.
This invention can be used in a multitude of other situations not mentioned
here.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 sets forth a view in plan of the modular panels connected together with
a wall or
perpendicular modular panel attachment, the component to attach modular panels
to a
wall or to perpendicular modular panels, and an end drain, the component for
remote
drainage of water.
FIG. 2 sets forth a view in a detailed plan of four modular panels connected
together
with the end drain, the component for drainage of water.
FIG. 3 sets forth a view in plan of an example of how to cut around a window
well or a
drain pipe.
FIG. 4 sets forth a view in a plan of the end drain hose connection.
FIG. 5 sets forth a view in plan of an example of an outside corner.
FIG. 6 sets forth a view in plan of an example of an inside corner with a
gutter drain.
FIG. 7 sets forth a view in plan of an example of two inside corners with
gutter drains.
FIG. 8 sets forth a view in front elevation and more specifically one double
standing
seam joint between four modular panels connected together, that is two pairs
of modular
panels connected side by side and both pairs of modular panels connected to
each other.
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FIG. 9 sets forth a view of the side elevation of the modular panels connected
together
with wall or perpendicular modular panel attachment, the component to attach
modular
panels to a wall or to perpendicular modular panels, (this component is not
shown on
some of the drawings) and an end drain, the component for remote drainage of
water.
FIG. 10 sets forth a view in perspective of a double standing seam connection
of four
modular panels connected together.
FIG. 11 sets forth a view in perspective (inside perspective) of the end
drain, the
component for drainage of water.
FIG. 12 set forth a view in perspective (outside perspective) of the end
drain, the
component for drainage of water.
FIG. 13 sets forth a view in perspective of a modular panel connected to a
wall or
perpendicular modular panel attachment, the component that will attach the
modular
panel to walls or to modular panels that are perpendicular to the modular
panel in an
outside corner.
FIG. 14 sets forth a view in cross section of modular panels connected to the
right
gutter drain.
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FIG. 15 sets forth a view in cross section of modular panels connected to the
left
gutter drain.
FIG. 16 sets forth a view in cross section of type one of an end drain that
just has a
vertical filter.
FIG. 17 sets forth a view in cross section of type two of an end drain that
has a vertical
filter, and a barrier.
FIG. 18 sets forth a view in cross section of type three of an end drain that
has a vertical
filter, a barrier, and a horizontal filter.
FIG. 19 sets forth a view in cross section of type four of an end drain that
has a filer, a
barrier, a horizontal filter, and a settlement area.
FIG. 20 sets forth a view in elevation of the modular panels on a typical
house.
FIG. 21 sets forth a view of a cross section detail of how the modular panels
will be
connected together.
FIG. 22 sets forth a view in perspective of a modular panel.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The drawings and description contained are for purposes of illustrating the
invention only
and not for purposes of limiting same.
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the modular panels with modular panels 2,3,4,5
connected
together with the wall or perpendicular modular panel attachment 1, and the
end drain 6.
The raised knobs 35 that interconnect the modular panels together are shown.
Number 36
indicates where the detail cross section in FIG. 21 is taken. Number 29
indicates where
the cross sections in FIGS. 16,17,18,19 are taken. The wall of a typical house
10 is also
shown. Number 41 indicates where the front elevation cross section in FIG. 8
is taken.
FIG. 2 shows a detailed plan view of the modular panels with modular panels
2,3,4,5
connected together. Also shown are the end drain 6 and the wall of a typical
house 10.
Number 34 shows the dotted lines of modular panels 3 and 5 interlocking
underneath
modular panels 2 and 4. Number 38 shows the dotted lines of end drains 6
interlocking
underneath modular panels 3 and 5. The wall or perpendicular modular panel
attachment
1 as shown in FIG. 1 is not shown in FIG. 2.
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FIG. 3 shows a plan of modular panel 2 cut out around a drainpipe 11 and
modular
panel 4 cut out around a window well 12. The dotted lines shown with number 13
indicate left modular panel edge of modular panel 4 that folds upward
interlocking
underneath with the double standing seam right side modular panel edge of
modular
panel 2. The wall of a typical house 10 is also shown.
FIG. 4 shows a plan view of an end drain hose connection. FIG 4 shows modular
panels
3 and 5, along with end drains 6. The output pipe 14 is part of the end drain
will connect
to standard size pipe 19. Number 20 is an expander pipe that will connect the
standard
size pipe 19 to a larger standard size tee pipe 17. Number 16 is an end cap
and number 18
is connector pipe.
FIG. 5 shows the plan of the modular panels around an outside corner of a
house 10.
Modular panels 2 and 4 are shown. Number 1 is a wall or perpendicular modular
panel
attachment that can be used to connect to a wall or can be used to attach to
the double
standing seam right side of a modular panel 4. Number 39 indicates where the
perspective in FIG. 13 was taken at the right side of the modular panel 4
along the double
standing seam.
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FIG. 6 shows the plan of the modular panels around an inside corner of a
house.
Modular panels 2,3,4,5 are shown. Modular panels 24, 25 are also shown.
Numbers 21,
22 are gutter drains. Number 23 indicates where the cross section in FIG. 15
is taken.
FIG. 7 shows the plan of the modular panels around two inside corners of a
house.
Modular panels 2, 4 are shown. Modular panel 25 is also shown. Numbers 21, 22
are
gutter drains. Number 34 indicates where the cross section in FIG. 14 is
taken.
FIG. 8 shows the front elevation cross section also indicated on FIG. 1 cross
section
marker number 41 of modular panels 2,3,4,5 when they are connected together.
Number
35 indicates the raised knobs that interconnect the modular panels together.
FIG. 9 shows a left side elevation of two modular panels 2, 3 with a wall or
perpendicular modular panel attachment 1 and a gutter drain 6. Number 10
indicates the
wall of the house. Number 17 is the larger standard size tee pipe and number
19 is the
standard size pipe. Number 9 is the flange that is under the modular panel
that connects
the modular panel 2 to the modular panel 3 directly below.
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FIG. 10 shows a perspective of an intersection of four modular panels 2,3,4,5.
Number
2 modular panel has a solid line. Number 3 modular panel has a double solid
line.
Number 4 modular panel has a short dotted line. Number 5 modular panel has a
long
dashed line. Number 42 indicates the double standing seam connection allowing
all four
modular panels 2,3,4,5 to be connected together without penetration of water
when the
modular panels 2,3,4,5 are on a slope that is able to drain the water away.
FIG 11 shows an inside perspective of the end drain 6. The output pipe 14 is
shown.
Number 15 is the vertical filter for the end drain.
FIG 12 shows an outside perspective of the end drain 6 connected to a modular
panel 3.
Number 3 modular panel is shown in a dotted line. Number 3 modular panel's
bottom
flange is shown with number 9. Number 15 is the vertical filter for the end
drain.
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FIG 13 shows a perspective how the wall or perpendicular modular panel
attachment 1
would affix to a wall or how the wall or perpendicular modular panel
attachment 1 would
fit under the double standing seam right side of a modular panel 4 at an
outside corner of
a building as also shown in FIG. 5. The modular panel 2 is attached to the
wall or
perpendicular modular panel attachment 1. Number 40 are the holes in the wall
or
perpendicular modular panel attachment 1 where the wall or perpendicular
modular panel
attachment 1 could be affixed to a wall.
FIG 14 shows a cross section of a right handed gutter drain with the double
standing
seam right side of parallel modular panels 24,25 on the left side of gutter
drains 21,22.
Modular panel 25 is higher in elevation than modular panel 24. On the right
hand side is
the perpendicular modular panel 4. This cross section of a similar right
handed gutter
drain is illustrated in plan on FIG 7 number 34, with the exception that
modular panel 24
(which would have been lower than modular panel 25) is not shown in plan.
Gutter drain
22 is higher in elevation and overlaps gutter drain 21.
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FIG 15 shows a cross section of a left handed gutter drain with the 90 degree
vertical
left side of parallel modular panels 24, 25 on the right side of gutter drains
21, 22.
Modular panel 25 is higher in elevation than modular panel 24. On the left
hand side is
the perpendicular modular panel 3. This cross section of a similar right
handed gutter
drain is illustrated in plan on FIG 6 number 23. Gutter drain 22 is higher in
elevation and
overlaps gutter drain 21.
FIG 16 shows a cross section of end drain type one that is also shown in the
plan view
of FIG 1 number 29. The end drain 6 is shown with the output pipe 14. Number
15 is the
vertical filter for the end drain.
FIG 17 shows a cross section of end drain type two that is also shown in the
plan view
of FIG 1 number 29. The end dram 6 is shown with the output pipe 14. Number 26
is a
barrier to prevent debris from clogging up the vertical filter 15 in the end
drain.
FIG 18 shows a cross section of end drain type three that is also shown in the
plan
view of FIG 1 number 29. The end drain 6 is shown with the output pipe 14.
Number 26
is a barrier to prevent debris from clogging up the vertical filter 15 in the
end drain.
Number 27 is an elevated horizontal filter to block particles from entering
the output pipe
14.
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FIG 19 shows a cross section of end drain type four that is also shown in the
plan view
of FIG 1 number 29. The end drain 6 is shown with the output pipe 14. Number
26 is a
barrier to prevent debris from clogging up the vertical filter 15 for the end
drain. Number
27 is an elevated horizontal filter to block particles from entering the
output pipe 14.
Number 28 is another barrier that forms a settling area for particles along
with barrier 26.
FIG 20 shows a house elevation with a row of modular panels 30 each with their
double
standing seam 42 buried below the ground 32. Number 31 is the foundation wall
of the
house and number 33 is the outline of the roof.
FIG 21 is a detailed cross section of the modular panel connection which is
also
indicated in plan in FIG 1 number 29. The modular panels 2 and 3 are joined by
both a
flange 9 and a raised knob 35. Number 37 shows a rounded top edge of a modular
panel
so that the modular panel 3 will lock into the flange 9 of modular panel 2.
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FIG 22 is a perspective of a modular panel 2. Number 9 indicates the flange.
Number
42 indicates the double standing seam which is on the right side of modular
panel 2.
Number 43 indicates the right side of the modular panel 2 and also indicates
the single
standing seam which is along most of the edge of the right side. Number 44
indicates the
top of the modular panel 2. Number 45 indicates the left side of the modular
panel 2.
Number 46 indicates the bottom of the modular panel 2 and wherein the modular
panel 2
can be connected to other modular panels by any manner of connecting means
that
include gluing, clipping panels together, fastening with a nut and a bolt, use
of said
flanges, male and female connectors or any other means of connecting modular
panels
together.
