Polymer based combined kerb drainage element and method of manufacturing such

Abstract

A polymer based combined kerb drainage element ( 1 ) and a method for manufacturing such are provided. The combined kerb drainage element ( 1 ) comprises a first moulded component ( 2 ) having side walls ( 2 a, 2 b ) that define a first longitudinal channel and a second moulded component ( 3 ) having side walls ( 3 a, 3 b ) that define a second longitudinal channel. The side walls ( 3 a, 3 b ) of at least one of the moulded components ( 3 ) are linked by a living hinge ( 4 ) such that said hinged side walls ( 3 a, 3 b ) can be aligned with the side walls ( 2 a, 2 b ) of the associated moulded component ( 2 ) to construct the combined kerb drainage element ( 1 ) with an internal conduit ( 16 ).

1 . A polymer based combined curb drainage element comprising:
 a first moulded component having side walls that define a first longitudinal channel; and   a second moulded component having side walls that define a second longitudinal channel;   
       wherein the side walls of at least one of the first or second moulded components are linked by a living hinge such that the hinged side walls are configured to be aligned with the side walls of the other moulded component to form the combined curb drainage element with an internal conduit. 
     
     
         2 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises mouldable plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 1 , wherein a side wall of the first moulded component comprises at least one aperture that, in use, allows water to enter the internal conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 1 , wherein side walls of the first and second moulded components are provided with complementary engagement means that co-operate to retain the alignment of the side walls in the combined curb drainage element. 
     
     
         5 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the longitudinal channel of the second moulded component is greater than that of the first moulded component. 
     
     
         6 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one anchoring portion configured to retain the combined curb drainage element in position relative to surrounding ground works once such has the surrounding ground works have been installed. 
     
     
         7 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one anchoring portion is adjacent to or coterminous with a region on the combined curb drainage element where the side walls of the first and second moulded components engage one another. 
     
     
         8 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one anchoring portion comprises a longitudinal protrusion that extends away from a length of a main body of the combined curb drainage element. 
     
     
         9 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal protrusion defines a leading edge with a plurality of apertures located between the main body of the combined curb drainage element and the leading edge. 
     
     
         10 . The combined curb drainage element of  claim 9 , wherein, in use, the leading edge protrudes from a back of the combined curb drainage element. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a combined curb drainage element, said method comprising:
 moulding first and second components each having side walls that define longitudinal channels, wherein at least one of the moulded components is provided with a living hinge between the side walls thereof;   bending the hinged moulded component such that the side walls of the first and second moulded components align with one another; and   securing the first and second moulded components together to construct an integrated combined curb drainage element with an internal conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal channel defined by the second moulded component has a greater cross-sectional area than the longitudinal channel defined by the first moulded component. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second moulded components are moulded from a mouldable plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second moulded components are secured together by a sealing means that ensure the connection between the moulded components is watertight. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing at least one aperture in the first moulded component. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing at least one anchoring portion to the combined curb drainage element. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing the side walls of the first and second moulded components with complementary shaped engagement means configured to structurally strengthen the connection formed between the first and second moulded components.