Scupper drain structure

[57] ABSTRACT

A scupper drain structure which is primarily intended for use with flat or comparatively flat roofs can be constructed utilizing a laminated body consisting of a self supporting layer of an ABS polymer material thermally bonded to an acrylic surface layer which is resistant to degradation. Such a body includes a peripheral section adapted to rest on a roof around a hole in the roof and an integral central section having a generally funnel like shape. A groove is located in the central section for retaining a mounting flange on a screen or grate covering the central section. The bottom of the central section is preferably constructed so that it can be attached to pipes of different sizes. The peripheral section may also include an overflow consisting of an upstanding hollow boss which is preferably formed so that either of several different sizes of pipe may be secured to it.

Claim, 2 Drawing Figures

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SCUPPER DRAIN STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION invention set forth in this specification pertains field of scupper drains or scupper drain strucPerhaps the earliest scupper drains or drain

The to the tures. structures were used in connection with draining the decks of various types of boats. At the present time, however, it is considered that the vast majority of scupper drain structures are used in connection with various types of building roofs.

The scupper drains or drain structures of this invention are primarily intended for use with flat or nearly flat roofs of this category which are built up by applying to a supporting roof structure of wood, concrete or the like successive layers of so-called “felt” or “paper” and tar. Scupper drain structures for use with roofs of this type have in the past normally been manufactured of metal. They have occasionally been manufactured of cast iron. More often, however, it is believed that they have been manufactured more commonly of so-called “sheet metal” consisting of a comparatively thin sheet of iron or steel. Usually such sheets have been provided with a protective coating of one sort or another, such as a galvanized coating.

In a sense from a utilitarian standpoint such structures can be considered satisfactory. This can be shown by the fact that they have been widely used for many years. However, such prior scupper drain structures are considered to also be unsatisfactory for any one of a variety of reasons. Prior cast drain structures are comparatively heavy and expensive because of their weight. It is frequently uneconomical to ship them a significant distance. Further, in some applications it is necessary to especially construct roofs to support them. Sheet metal type scupper structures are considered comparatively disadvantageous because of the amount of labor that goes into their manufacture and because of the fact that they are not always manufactured to desired quality standards. Further such sheet metal structures are apt to be bent or damaged as they are manufactured, shipped and installed.

Frequently there is also a problem with both of these types of metal scuppers in obtaining what may be regarded as satisfactory adhesion between the tar on a roof and the metal to enable the scupper drains to be satisfactorily used over a prolonged period without leakage. In some locales it is also considered that the corrosive resistance qualities of prior metal scupper drain structures are so low that it is disadvantageous to use such structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the preceding it is believed that it will be apparent that there is a need for new and improved scupper drains and scupper drain structures. A broad objective of the invention set forth in this specification is to fullfil this need. More specific objectives of the invention are to provide scupper drains or drain scuppers of materials: which can be easily and conveniently manufactured to a desired quality standard at a comparatively nominal cost; which are sufficiently light in weight that they can be shipped at a comparatively nominal freight cost; which are physically of such a character that they can be handled, shipped and used without their becoming damaged; which will form an adequate satisfactory bond with normal roofing tar and the like; and which are capable of giving prolonged, reliable, effective service.

In accordance with this invention, these objectives are achieved by providing a scupper drain structure which comprises: a body of laminated material consisting of an imporous, continous, lower self supporting layer of ABS polymer material and an imporous, continous, upper surface layer of an acrylic polymer which is resistant to degradation thermally bonded to the lower layer. Such a body includes a peripheral section which is nearly flat and which slopes downward peripherally towards a central section of a funnel like shape. The central section extends beneath the peripheral section and its bottom is adapted to be connected to a drain pipe by fitting means located on the bottom for this purpose. A self-supporting grate is located by a mounting flange on the grate fitting into a groove in the central section adjacent to the top of this section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A summary of this category is not intended to indicate all the facets and features of an invention such as the present invention which are significant or important. Such other items of importance or significance with respect to the present invention will be apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a part of the flat roof constructed utilizing a presently preferred embodiment or form of a scupper drain structure in accordance with this invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

The particular scupper drain structure illustrated utilizes certain verablly expressed concepts as are set forth in the claim in the appended claims. Because of the nature of these concepts they may be utilized within a number of differently appearing structures through ⁴⁰ the use or exercise of normal, routine skill in the plumbing industry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawing there are shown a scupper drain structure 10 of the present invention utilized in connection with a nearly flat roof 12 which gradually drains towards the structure 10. The roof 12 normally includes a conventional roof structure 14 which is surmounted by layers of so-called felt or paper 16 and tar 18. This felt or paper 16 is not normally either felt or paper in a technical sense but may consist of fibers of various types bonded together in various manners and normally impregnated with an asphalt or tar preparation. Equivalents can of course be substituted for the paper 16 and the tar 18.

The roof structure 14 is provided with an opening 20 which is adapted to be enclosed by the structure 10. This structure 10 has a generally peripheral section 22 which is larger than the opening 20 so as to be capable of overlying the roof structure 14 around it. This peripheral section 22 carries an integral central section 24 which extends from the bottom 26 of the section 22 ₆₅ through the opening 20. The entire structure 10 is adapted to be secured in place by nails or other fasteners being inserted from the top of the peripheral section 22 into the roof structure 14.

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The central section 24 is of a generally funnel like shape and has a top 32 secured to the peripheral section 22 along a peripheral, internal groove 34 extending completely around the interior of the central section 24 immediately below the adjacent, surrounding surface of the top 30 of the peripheral section 22. This central section 24 leads to a bottom discharge opening 36 at the bottom 38 of the section 24. Preferably this opening 36 is defined by an inwardly extending flange 40 at the bottom 38 of the central section 24. In the embodiment or structure 10 shown this flange 40 is immediately below a comparatively short cylindrical extension 42 generally at the bottom 38. The flange 40 is adapted to be secured by welding or related techniques to a mating flat flange 44 on a rigid fitting 46. This fitting 46 includes a downwardly extending cylindrical nipple 48 carried by the flange 44.

This structure consisting of the extension 42 and the nipple 48 constitutes as what may be referred to as a “fitting means” for securing the bottom of the central section 24 to a pipe 50. Preferably the extension 42 and the nipple 48 are dimensioned so that their outer diamters correspond to the inner diameters of standard size pipe so that a pipe may be secured to either in accordance to code requirements in a particular locale governing pipe sizes. If desired such a fitting means may include more than two cylindrical parts of different diameters so that so that the structure may be used with pipes of more than two sizes.

The structure 10 also includes a self supporting screen or grate 52 having a peripheral mounting flange 54 adapted to fit within the groove 34 completely around the interior of the central section 24. This flange 54 is preferably no thicker than the depth of the groove 34 beneath the top 30 of the peripheral section 22 adjacent to it so that water will readily drain onto it. This flange 54 carries a central, dome shaped, foraminous screen or grid structure 66 through which water can drain during the use of the structure 10. Preferably the grid structure 56 is separated by an impervious guard wall or band 58 from the flange 54. This band 58 serves to block gravel and similar roof debris from the grid structure 56 so as to keep such debris from falling into the central section 24 and the pipe 50. The flange 54 preferably contains small drain holes 60 adjacent to the guard wall 58 which serve more or less as a filter hole in keeping back debris. These holes 60 are located so as to be spaced from the groove 34 in the structure shown.

If the screen or grid 52 is manufactured of a conventional cast iron composition normally it will be heavy enough so that no fastening means are required in order to secure it into place. When, however, it is constructed as preferred out of a lightweight material which is physically strong enough to withstand virtually any reasonably encountered abuse and which is resistant to degradation when exposed to ambient influences such as a common carbonate-linked polymer produced by reacting bisphenol A and phosgene it is considered desirable to physically secure it in place by an appropriate fastening means. In the structure 10 such fastening means comprise bolts 62 and conventional elastomeric washers 64 extending in between the flange 54 and the groove 34. Such fastening means may of course be used with a cast iron or similar screen or grid 52.

It is preferred to form the structure 10 so that the sections 22 and 24 are integral with one another so as to constitute a “body” and consist of an imporous, continuous, lower, self-supporting layer of ABS polymer ma5 terial thermally bonded to an imporous, continuous upper surface layer of an acrylic polymer material which is resistant to degradation when exposed to ambient influences. The AVS material is highly desirable because of its well recognized desirable physical char10 acteristics including its comparatively light weight.

When it is used as a layer 66 the body indicated is capable of withstanding significant abuse during handling, shipment and installation.

The acrylic layer 68 is desirable for use in connection 15 with the layer 66 since it adequately protects the ABS material in the layer 66 against normal ambient influences which might tend to lessen the effective life of the ABS material. When the two layers 66 and 68 are hot or thermally bonded the polymer materials in these 20 two layers are considered to intermingle to a degree so that there is no danger of the two layers becoming delaminated as they are used.

This is quite important from a practical standpoint in enabling the structure 10 to be used over a prolonged 25 period. Also, this is quite important in that it enables the entire body consisting of the sections 22 and 24 to be inexpensively formed out of a sheet of laminated material as indicated by conventional vacuum forming techniques. The ABS material is also desirable for use ³⁰ as described in the fitting 46 because it can be conveniently secured to conventional ABS pipe by plumbers utilizing conventional techniques.

If desired the structure 10 may be constructed so as to include what may be referred to as an overflow ³⁵ structure or means 70. This overflow structure 70 is located on the peripheral section 22 adjacent to and at one side of the central section 24 so as to be spaced from the periphery 72 of the peripheral section 22. This overflow means 70 consists of an upstanding hollow ⁴⁰ boss 74 which extends from the top 30. This boss 74 includes a top opening 76 and internal step shoulders 78 which are adapted to be secured to the exteriors of pipe of different sizes such as the pipe 80 shown through the use of a conventional adhesive. If desired a conven⁴³ tional cup shaped screen or grid 82 may be press fitting or otherwise secured around the exterior of the overflow structure 70.

It is believed that the utility of the complete structure 10 will be obvious from the preceding. After this structure is secured in place on a roof structure 14 as indicated the tar 18 used on the roof 12 will be extended over the periphery 72 of the peripheral section 22. The material used in the layers 66 and 68 will bond well to the normal hot tar used so as to preclude the possibility of leakage around the structure 10.