Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
1
LINEAR DRAIN ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The technical field generally relates to construction and renovation products
and
more particularly concerns a linear drain assembly for draining water from a
shower.
BACKGROUND
The linear drain models actually available on the market present numerous
drawbacks.
The first drawback relates to the complexity of the installation process of
linear
drains. The installer often has to face uncertainty during the installation
process,
which may result in a poorly sealed system. For at least this reason, errors
occurring during the installation process involve high costs and time delay.
Furthermore, the systems currently available on the market are generally not
suitable for combining the shower base with a decorative drain, which affects
not
solely the draining property of the linear drain, but also the sealing of the
entire
system. When the consumer is not satisfied with the decorative grid, one is
forced to destroy the shower tray to change it.
The second drawback concerns manufacturing processes for linear drain
assemblies. Depending on the product, several transformations are necessary,
which generates important costs. For instance, the manufacturing process of
shower bases ready for the tiling step available on the market usually
requires
the use of specialized machinery, such as injection moldings. Such shower
bases
are typically made of plastic and do not offer the possibility to add a
decorative
grid. Most of the linear drains currently available on the market are made
from
stainless steel. Some linear drains require in their manufacturing processes
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
2
several steps of welding and folding with mitigated results. The manufacturing
process is also known to consume a significant amount of energy.
The third drawback concerns the environmental impact generated by this type of
system as currently found on the market. The products offered on the market
typically include plastic-based materials, polymer-based and hybrid fiber
requiring
a lot of processing during their manufacturing steps. These products are often
not
recyclable.
Therefore, there is currently a need in the market for a linear drain assembly
that
is easy to install and that can be recycled. There is also a need for a linear
drain
assembly that can be made from recyclable materials and that has a smaller
environmental impact compared to similar products found on the market.
Furthermore, there is a need for a linear drain assembly that can be
manufactured simply and at low cost.
SUMMARY
In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a linear drain assembly which
drains a liquid from a shower.
In some embodiments, the linear drain assembly generally comprises a base and
a hole.
The base is made from a single sheet of a foldable material and has a slope
for
directing a liquid flow. The hole is configured as a drain and connectable to
a
discharge pipe.
The base of the linear drain assembly is mountable to a shower area, so that
the
liquid flow is directable from the base towards the discharge pipe via the
drain.
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
3
In some implementations, the dimensions of the hole are compatible with market-
standard dimensions of drains and pipes.
In some implementations, the linear drain assembly comprises an adhesive
membrane for sealing the linear drain assembly.
In some implementations, the linear drain assembly receives a decorative grid.
In some implementations, the single sheet of the base of the linear drain
assembly is folded to form a sidewall, extending perpendicularly from the
base.
In some implementations, the single sheet of the base is folded three times to
form three sidewalls defining angles that are reinforceable by a weld.
In some implementations, the single sheet of the base is folded four times to
form
four sidewalls defining an area to be tiled.
In some implementations, the linear drain assembly is made from a first and a
second single sheet of a foldable material and the second single sheet of a
foldable material is fixed on top of the first single sheet of foldable
material.
In some implementations, the linear drain assembly has a base threshold for
fixing the linear drain to a shower tray.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood upon
reading of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the appended
drawings.
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a linear drain assembly according to an
embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a linear drain assembly according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a linear drain assembly according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a linear drain assembly according to another
embodiment.
FIG.5 is a perspective view of a decorative grid according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a linear drain assembly and a decorative grid
according to an embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a linear drain assembly comprising a
decorative
grid according to another embodiment.
FIG. 8A and 8B are perspective views of linear drain assembly portions
according to an embodiment.
FIG. 9A and 96 is a perspective view of a linear drain assembly according to
an
embodiment.
FIG. 10A and 10B are perspective views of a linear drain assembly according to
an embodiment.
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an assembled linear drain assembly according
to
another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
5
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given
similar reference numerals. In order to not unduly encumber the figures, some
elements may not be indicated on some figures if they were already mentioned
in
preceding figures. It should also be understood herein that the elements of
the
drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the emphasis is instead
being placed upon clearly illustrating the elements and structures of the
present
embodiments.
In accordance with embodiments, there is provided a linear drain assembly for
draining liquid from a shower. Some embodiments of the present invention may
be particularly useful for the installation of a shower or the like. The
installation of
the linear drain assembly is simple and results in a shower tray or a shower
tray
portion having improved aesthetic and sealing properties
Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a linear drain assembly 10 for draining
liquid from a shower is shown. The linear drain assembly 10 can also be used
as
a shower tray.
The linear drain assembly 10 comprises a base made of a bottom portion 12 and
four sidewalls 14 determining a square. The bottom portion 12 and the
sidewalls
14 can be made of metal, polymer, brass, combinations thereof, or any other
suitable materials having the desired mechanical properties. It will be
understood
that the bottom portion 12 and the sidewalls 14 are embodied by a single sheet
of
a foldable material folded to form a shower tray or a shower tray portion.
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
6
In the present application, a foldable material is, for example, any material
having
an initial shape capable of being folded into a different configuration
without
breakage of the material, and is thus a reconfigurable material.
The sidewalls 14 act as a non-return border and facilitate the installation of
the
linear drain assembly 10 close to a wall. One of the four sidewalls 14 is
configured as a base threshold 15 and may be used to facilitate the
installation of
the linear drain assembly 10.
The linear drain assembly 10 also includes a hole 16 configured as a drain and
positioned in the center region of the drain assembly 10. The hole 16 is
obtained
by removing a portion of the bottom portion 12 of the linear drain assembly.
The
hole 16 can have a circular, an elliptical or a polygonal shape. It will be
understood that the hole 16 is intended at discharging liquid from the linear
drain
assembly 10.
The bottom portion 12 has a slope directed from the sidewalls 14 towards the
hole 16. When a liquid is contained in the linear drain assembly 10, the
liquid
flows towards the hole 16, following the slope. The hole 16 can be connected
to a
discharge pipe, which evacuates the liquid from the linear drain assembly 10.
The linear drain assembly 10 furthermore comprises a flag 18. The flag 18 can
be made of an adhesive material, a notch, a drawing, combinations thereof, or
any visual sign that facilitates the installation of the linear drain assembly
10.
With reference to FIGs 2, 3 and 4, three other possible embodiments of linear
drain assembly 10 are shown, corresponding to reference numerals 20, 30 and
40. They are similar to the linear drain assembly 10, except for the number of
base thresholds and the positioning of the holes 26, 36 and 46. The linear
drain
assemblies 20 and 40 have no base threshold, while linear drain assembly 30
has two base thresholds 35. The holes 26 and 36, respectively belonging to the
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
7
linear drain assemblies 20 and 30, are positioned at one edge region of their
respective linear drain assembly and the hole 46 is in the center region of
the
linear drain 40.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, a decorative grid 50 is shown. The
decorative grid 50 can be made of metal, plastic, combinations thereof or any
materials having the required mechanical properties. It will be understood
that the
decorative grid 50 is a monolithic element aiming at hiding a drain.
The decorative grid 50 has a top portion 52, grid sidewalls 54 and a plurality
of
notches 56. In the illustrated embodiment, the decorative grid 50 has a
rectangular shape. It will be understood that the decorative grid 50 may vary
in
shape and may be circular, square or polygonal.
Now referring to FIG. 6, an embodiment of a linear drain assembly 60 is shown.
The linear drain assembly 60 has a bottom portion 62, four sidewalls 64 and a
hole 66 in its center region 67. The linear drain assembly 60 is similar to
the
linear drain assembly 10 described with reference with FIG. 1, except for the
center region 67. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, the center region
67 is
made from a material that is different than the material used for the bottom
portion 62 and the sidewalls 64. More particularly, in this embodiment, the
center
region 67 is made from a material with rust prevention properties, such as
stainless steel or the like. The bottom portion 62 may be made from steel or
any
metallic elements and is covered with an adhesive coating. The adhesive
coating
may be particularly useful when adding tiles to the linear drain assembly 60.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, a disassembled linear drain assembly
70
is shown. The linear drain assembly 70 comprises a bottom portion 72,
sidewalls
74 and a hole 76. The hole 76 is positioned at one edge portion of the bottom
portion 72. An adhesive layer 77 for promoting the sealing of the linear drain
assembly 70 is fixed at the one edge portion of the bottom portion 72 and
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
8
comprises a perforation which is aligned with the hole 76. A decorative grid
79
aiming at hiding the hole 76 can be added on top of the adhesive layer 77.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8A, a linear drain assembly portion 80
is
shown. The linear drain assembly can be made of metal, plastic, or any other
material having the required mechanical properties. It will be understood that
the
linear drain assembly portion 80 is embodied by a monolithic element aiming at
draining a liquid from the linear drain assembly portion 80 when installed
into an
existing shower tray.
The linear drain assembly portion 80 has a rectangular shape and two pairs of
parallel and equal length sides 81 and 83. The linear drain assembly portion
80
also has a bottom portion 82 and a flag 88, as described with reference to
FIG. 1
The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8B is similar to the one described with
reference to FIG. 8A, except for the shape of the linear drain assembly
portion
80. In the embodiment of FIG. 8B, the linear drain assembly portion 80 has a
square shape.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 9A, a linear drain assembly portion 90
is
shown. It is similar to the linear drain assembly portion 80 of FIG. 8A and
FIG.
8B, but further comprises a sidewall 94 made from the folding of a portion of
the
linear drain assembly 90. The sidewall 94 facilitates the installation of the
linear
drain assembly portion close to a wall.
The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 9B is similar to the one described with
reference to FIG. 9A, except for number of sidewalls 94. In the embodiment of
FIG. 9B, the linear drain assembly portion 90 has three sidewalls 94.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 10A and 10B, a linear drain assembly 100
is
shown. With reference with FIG. 10 A, the linear drain assembly 100 comprises
a
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
9
bottom portion 102, four sidewalls 104 and a hole 106. The linear drain
assembly
100 is embodied by a monolithic element aiming at draining liquid from the
linear
drain assembly 100. The linear drain assembly can be made of steel, metallic
material, or any other material having the required mechanical properties.
Furthermore, a weld can be provided in each corner of the linear drain
assembly
100.
Now referring to FIG. 10B, a bottom view of the linear drain assembly 100 is
shown. It is similar to the linear drain assembly 100 described with reference
with
FIG. 10A, but further includes a drain protuberance 107 for facilitating the
connection between the linear drain assembly 100 and a discharge pipe.
In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11, the linear drain assembly 110
comprises
a bottom portion 112, four base thresholds 115 and a hole 119 as described
with
reference with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. The linear drain assembly
110 also comprises folding lines 120. The folding lines 120 are obtained by
partially folding a region of the bottom portion 112 of the linear drain
assembly
110. The folding lines 120 have a slope directed towards the hole 119 to
facilitate
the evacuation of a liquid from the linear drain assembly 110 to the hole 119.
In summary, the present invention is advantageous over prior art linear drain.
In
one aspect, the linear drain assembly as described by the embodiments solves
the sealing problem, because the drain is at least partially integrable in the
shower tray. In the case where the system is only a part of the shower tray,
the
seal is simplified and improved. The installation process of the linear drain
assembly is also simple, which solves the drawback associated to the
complexity
of the installation of linear drain.
The dimensions of the parts composing the linear drain assembly ensure the
sealing of the linear drain assembly. Furthermore, the drain remains easily
CA 02929761 2016-05-10
accessible even in the presence of a decorative grid. The decorative grid can
be
replaceable at any time, without destroying the shower tray.
The manufacturing process of the present invention is also very advantageous.
5 The welds are minimized and the folding of the single sheet foldable
material is
simplified, which reduces the production time. As a result, the present
invention
can be manufactured at a very competitive price.
Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the embodiment described
10 above without departing from the scope of the invention.
