Basement floor drain and method

Abstract

A basement floor drain for use in basement waterproofing systems. The floor drain contains an upper chamber for collecting water, and an air resistant lower chamber to promote the establishment of a closed waterproofing system. A valve regulates flow of water from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. An outlet in the lower chamber may be fluidly connected to a basement sump to facilitate extraction of collected water. A basket may be included in a base of the upper chamber to protect the valve from clogging, and the basket may be removable to aid cleaning. The floor drain may be a modular assembly, multiple components of which may be coupled for customizable size and functionality.

1 . A basement floor drain, comprising:
 an upper chamber constructed and arranged to collect water;   an air resistant lower chamber in fluid communication with the upper chamber; and   a valve configured to regulate flow of water from the upper chamber to the air resistant lower chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The drain of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a cantilever. 
     
     
         3 . The drain of  claim 1 , further comprising a separator in a base of the upper chamber, constructed and arranged to minimize clogging of the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The drain of  claim 3 , wherein the separator comprises a basket. 
     
     
         5 . The drain of  claim 4 , wherein the basket is configured to be removably received by the base of the upper chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The drain of  claim 4 , wherein the basket extends into the air resistant lower chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The drain of  claim 4 , wherein the basket comprises a detachable lid having a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The drain of  claim 4 , wherein the valve comprises a cantilever in mechanical cooperation with an outlet of the basket to regulate flow of water from the upper chamber to the air resistant lower chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The drain of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable drain cover coupled to the upper chamber and having a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         10 . The drain of  claim 1 , wherein the air resistant lower chamber includes an outlet to facilitate fluidly connecting the drain to a basement waterproofing system. 
     
     
         11 . The drain of  claim 1 , wherein the drain comprises a plurality of detachable segments including a first detachable segment and a second detachable segment. 
     
     
         12 . The drain of  claim 11 , wherein the air resistant lower chamber is coupled to the first detachable segment and the drain further comprises a second air resistant lower chamber fluidly connected to the second detachable segment. 
     
     
         13 . The drain of  claim 11 , further comprising an end cap at a distal end of the upper chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The drain of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the drain is longer than a width of the drain. 
     
     
         15 . A method of assembling a basement floor drain, comprising:
 providing a first floor drain element having an upper chamber constructed and arranged to collect water, and having an air resistant lower chamber in fluid communication with the upper chamber;   coupling the first floor drain element to a second floor drain element; and   installing the floor drain in a basement floor.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein coupling the first floor drain element to the second floor drain element comprises creating an extended upper chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising fluidly connecting the extended upper chamber to an air resistant lower chamber of the second floor drain element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising inserting a removable basket into a base of the upper chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying an end cap to a distal end of the extended upper chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying a removable drain cover having a plurality of apertures to the upper chamber. 
     
     
         21 . A method of waterproofing a basement, comprising:
 installing a floor drain into a floor of the basement, the floor drain having an upper chamber constructed and arranged to collect water, and having an air resistant lower chamber in fluid communication with the upper chamber; and   regulating flow of water from the upper chamber to the air resistant lower chamber.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising fluidly connecting the air resistant lower chamber to a basement sump to facilitate extraction of collected water from the basement. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein installing the floor drain comprises adjusting a length of the upper chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein installing the floor drain comprises fluidly connecting a second air resistant lower chamber to the upper chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein regulating flow of water from the upper chamber to the air resistant lower chamber comprises utilizing a one-way flow valve. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein utilizing a one-way flow valve comprises utilizing a valve containing a cantilever. 
     
     
         27 . A basement floor drain kit, comprising:
 a floor drain element having an upper chamber constructed and arranged to collect water, and having an air resistant lower chamber in fluid communication with the upper chamber; and   a first upper chamber extender element constructed and arranged to increase an effective length of the upper chamber to create an extended upper chamber.   
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 27 , further comprising a valve for regulating flow of water from the extended upper chamber to the air resistant lower chamber. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 28 , wherein the valve comprises a cantilever. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein the first upper chamber extender element is substantially identical to the floor drain element. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 27 , further comprising an upper chamber end cap. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 27 , further comprising a basket configured to be removably received in a base of the upper chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 27 , further comprising a removable drain cover defining a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 27 , further comprising a second upper chamber extender element. 
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 34 , wherein a length of the first upper chamber extender element is greater than a length of the second upper chamber extender element.