STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates generally to devices and constructs used to effect subterranean drainage, from building entrenchments, such as footings, foundations and walls, where seepage and ground water are a problem. More specifically, this invention embodies a particular device that can withstand considerable overburden and which serves dual functions of providing both drainage and a form-making structure (form-drain), because it can be realized in two-dimensional modalities (plank/sheet), having rigidity in either one or both dimensions.

[0005] 2. Discussion of Relevant Art

[0006] Several inventions, within the field, have been studied to find a drainage device that would serve the dual functions mentioned above. U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,799 ('799), issued Jul. 6, 1993, for PERMANENTLY INSTALLED BUILDING FOUNDATION FORM, although well suited to the duality of form-drain usage, remains highly limited and not extendable to basement walls or above ground construction, such as elevated garage floors. Essentially, this 1993 invention taught a foraminous, hollow plank device that is used in the manner of standard planking for the formation of foundation forms. The non-biodegradable staking devices of '799 are contemplated for use in the instant invention.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,515 (515), issued Jun. 20, 1989 for SUBTERRANEAN DRAIN shows a unit for emplacement, by adhesion, to a subterranean wall, and interposed between the wall and (backfilled) soil. Shown is a rollable, planar sheet from which project spaced-apart frusto-conical (i.e., truncated cone) elements that support a geotextile filter fabric. In actual application, the instant inventor has recognized three limitations that prevent or forestall his use of the '515 device: (1) the flexibility of the planar sheet is not restricted enough to use as a form, and waves or ripples form in the sheet(s) when the device is used over soil and under basement floors; further, its adhesion to a wall is potentially frustrated by its (peel-off) flexibility; (2) it cannot be used as a footing form-drain because, in itself, it cannot be rigidified; and, (3) it lacks the support strength necessary to serve as an under-concrete structure, because the fabric is easily pressed into the conduit matrix. Another disclosure, U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,185 ('185), issued Jul. 24, 1990 for COMBINED DRAINAGE AND WATERPROOFING PANEL SYSTEM FOR SUBTERRANEAN WALLS, although exemplifying greater detail than '515, nonetheless shows similar concept, is likewise restricted to subterranean walls and has the same overall limitations.

[0008] FINNED SUBTERRANEAN DRAINAGE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,792 ('792), issued Nov. 23, 1993, and which shows, generally, a planar and flexible drainage core that projects T-shaped elements (termed “fins”) in lieu of the previously disclosed “frusto-geometricals” (a term used in this paper and meaning, literally, “posts” having geometrical cross sections). The tops of the T-shaped elements are flat and lie within a second, parallel plane which is set apart from the core plane. Significant spacing is shown between the fins and, like the above types of drain devices, a geotextile fabric is overlain the second plane to exclude soil particulate. With the exception of offering better internal flow characteristics, greater support for a non-viscous overburden and possibly less flexibility in a single dimension (along the x-axis, as defined in the patent), no greater aid is provided to the instant inventor, for fulfillment of his above-stated requirements. A late development, in drainage devices, is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,297, entitled: FOUNDATION WALL CONSTRUCTION. This device is a rigid sheet “sandwich”, defined by two plastic, parallel plies that are separated by a multiplicity of parallel partitions that effect a plurality of channels. It is an integral (monolithic) structure that bears perforations in the sheet facing the soil and is used with a filter fabric or large aggregate, interposed the soil and the perforated sheet.

[0009] Finally, as indicative of the art that pre-existed before the above patents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,087, for FOUNDATION WALL PROTECTIVE SHEET, offers one of the first devices for providing dimples (posts or detents), as a stand-off mechanism for spacing a filter fabric, and a physical folding crease to accommodate bending about the footing.

[0010] Two limitations common to all of the discussed art, with the exception of '297 and '799, are that: (1) the highly flexible bases or “cores” present considerable difficulty in adhering them to vertical structures, unless first nailed in place. They are not installed with the comparative ease of plywood or wallboard, which is more readily propped and, if fixed with an adhesive, will not peel; and, (2) geotextile fabric must be used over a highly foraminous support structure (projections). These limitations severely hamper their speed of installation and/or their usage under soil or poured (concrete) floors, where seepage occurs through the overburden and must enter into the interstitial drain network. Further to their total flexibility, the easy roll ability of these planar/sheet devices is a desirable characteristic that lends, to all of them, ease in packaging and shipping, as well as a rapid horizontal lay-down facility, during installation, and, to some extent, accommodation of discontinuities encountered in the vertical lay-up plane. However, high flexibility presents a problem in leveling, over a sub-soil/aggregate; this can require a more labor-intensive installation process, in order to avoid ripple- or wave-created wells.

[0011] Thus, the instant inventor required a drainage device that would embody the character of flexibility for rolling, yet retain up to significant inflexibility, in at least one dimension (direction) of the plane, while accommodating, during installation in that direction, transition to another plane. The accommodation facility is simply the ability to maintain integrity of drainage down a wall and over a footing or, from one level of an elevated floor, down a wall and even to another floor. The reader should understand that, to acquire the desired form-drain device, a balance must be struck between the characteristics of flexibility and rigidity. Disruption in the integrity of a drainage system should not be entertained; and, a discontinuity in a form, that allows bulging, cannot be tolerated.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0012] Because they show the present state of the art in drainage devices having a basic two-dimensional or an ostensible sandwich structure, as well as disclosing various projections therefor, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,857,297, 5,263,792, 5,224,799, 4,943,185 and 4,840,515 are hereby incorporated by reference.

DEFINITIONS

[0013] Generally throughout this disclosure, words of description and claim shall have meanings given by standard English usage; however, certain words will be used that may have a more stylistic meaning and are defined as follows:

[0014] continual—having intermittent, or periodic, breaks or discontinuities;

[0015] continuous—having no breaks or discontinuities;

[0016] form-drain—a device used for forming or molding so as to receive within the mold, proper, a plastic or otherwise viscous material, while providing fluid drainage (seepage) through selected passages within the device;

[0017] integral—necessary to complete or in itself complete;

[0018] rigidity—a physical property of an object wherein the object substantially resists deflection in a particular dimension (direction) or plane; and

[0019] unitary—having wholeness, as in a single unit or monolith composed of plural members.

[0020] The above listing is not exhaustive. Certain other stylized terms, used previously or hereafter, are defined at the time of their first usage or placed in quotation marks and used with conventional wording.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The instant inventor has overcome the deficiencies or limitations of the earlier art by providing an inexpensive, easily applied innovation that solves the problems of draining water from building floors or subterranean walls and providing a form-drain mechanism for both forming and draining footings or foundations.

[0022] The preferred embodiment of the invention is formed from a non-biodegradable, extrudable or castable plastic such as ABS, PVC, polystyrene, and the like. The desired goal is to acquire a material that has unlimited in-ground use, while yet having a degree of flexibility that would allow rolling or reflexive bending after fashioning into a sheet form.

[0023] The invention consists, essentially, of a “sandwich” device having a top plane of the aforementioned material and a bottom plane, the planes separated by a series of parallel supports, that form an integral unit with the planes. Thus, what is formed, in the first instance, is a substantially planar device, fluid-impenetrable at top and bottom and possessing a multiplicity of parallel fluid conduits or channels, interiorly of the device. The supports may be either of a partition type—continuous (without discontinuity); or, they may be of the discrete post type—continual (with periodic breaks). Such attributes depend on whether a flexion or bending along a principal axis of the supports is desired.

[0024] When a series of discontinuities is desired in partition supports, a concomitant series of discontinuities (or cuts), often including perforations, will appear in the top plane and continue (crosswise), through the partition array, but without violation to the integrity of the bottom plane. This will allow the device, being oriented to the x-y dimensional axes (the x-y plane), to roll about either the x or y axis, say the x, into the −z dimension. Similarly, a series of cuts through the top plane and between the partitions (still without violation of bottom plane integrity) will facilitate rolling of the device about the (remaining) y axis, also into the −z dimension. Optionally, the partition structure is discarded in favor of plane separators consisting of a row-column matrix of projections, or posts, as seen in the above-discussed relevant art. Here, the rows or columns of discrete and uniformly separated projections are simply discontinuous “partitions” separating the top and bottom planes. When the desired thin cuts (as described above) are made in the top plane, to effect a flexibility or roll ability, such characteristics are acquired, but the resultant device remains rigid with respect to roll about the x-y axes, into the +z dimension. This unique condition, a selectable rigidifying, obtains because the top plane, although discontinuous along the x or y axis, because of the multiplicity of cuts, nonetheless remains virtually integral in itself. Each of the projections (integrally) supports a “platform” that is in abutment with its adjacent neighbors, whether they be long, broad strips or multiple squares/rectangles, depending on the direction and/or multiplicity of cuts. Thus, rolling the “sandwich” device into the +z dimension is greatly impeded and, depending on the material and thickness of the top plane, a deliberate force must be exerted to do so.

[0025] When used as a drain for walls, the sheeted device is adhered to the wall so that its top, or perforable surface, faces the source of seepage or ground water and its conduits direct the fluid (usually) downward. As a drain for floors, the same surface is oriented upward and fluid is drawn off to the sides. Use as a form-drain requires construction of the invention with flexibility or roll ability in but one direction; this application is discussed hereinafter to greater length.