Trench drain

Abstract

Trench drains are installed in indoor or outdoor locations and provide drainage for water and/or other liquids. Trench drains are elongated, having a length that is generally longer than a width. A trench drain includes a channel, a frame, and a drain cover. The channel can receive and direct water and/or other liquids that have entered the drain via the drain cover. The drain cover is supported by the frame, which is mounted to the channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trench drain comprising:
 a channel including an upper edge, a base, and an interior surface extending between the base and the upper edge;   a frame including an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface positioned proximate the upper edge of the channel, the frame configured to transmit load exerted on the upper surface to a substrate surrounding the channel; and   a drain cover supported on the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The trench drain of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the lower surface of the frame is unsupported by the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The trench drain of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the lower surface of the frame is configured to directly engage the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The trench drain of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is an elongated channel extending along an axis, a portion of the frame extending in a lateral direction transverse to the axis, the portion spaced apart from the channel by a vertical gap. 
     
     
         5 . The trench drain of  claim 1 , wherein the channel includes a support rib protruding from an exterior surface of the channel. 
     
     
         6 . A channel for a trench drain, the channel comprising:
 an upper edge;   a base;   an interior surface extending between the base and the upper edge;   an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and   a support rib protruding from the exterior surface, the support rib having an outer profile that has a shape that corresponds to the interior surface of the channel.   
     
     
         7 . The channel of  claim 6 , wherein the interior surface includes a first lower portion that is at an angle relative to a direction of height of the channel and a second upper portion that is substantially parallel to the direction of height of the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The channel of  claim 7 , wherein the outer profile of the support rib includes a lower angled portion that corresponds to the first lower portion of the interior surface and an upper vertical portion that corresponds to the second upper portion of the interior surface. 
     
     
         9 . The channel of  claim 8 , wherein the outer profile of the support rib can be received within and secured by an inner surface of a second channel that is identical to the channel. 
     
     
         10 . A trench drain comprising:
 a channel including an upper edge, a base, an interior surface extending between the base and the upper edge, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;   a clamp coupled to the exterior surface of the channel and configured to couple to a support member spaced apart from the channel;   a frame having a lower surface positioned adjacent the upper edge of the channel, and a drain cover supported on the frame.   
     
     
         11 . The trench drain of  claim 10 , wherein the clamp extends downward below the base of the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The trench drain of  claim 10 , wherein the clamp extends horizontally from the channel and upper surface of the clamp is located at least 2 inches below the upper edge of the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The trench drain of  claim 10 , wherein the channel includes a first channel portion and a second channel portion, wherein the first channel portion has a first clamp and the second channel portion has a second clamp, and wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are configured to couple to a single channel strut member spaced apart from the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The trench drain of  claim 10 , wherein the frame is configured to transmit load exerted on an upper surface of the frame to a substrate surrounding the channel, wherein the frame includes a lug that increases a surface area of the frame that can contact the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The trench drain of  claim 14 , wherein the lug includes a foot configured to rest on an arm protruding from the exterior surface of the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The trench drain of  claim 15 , wherein the lug is a first lug, wherein the frame includes a second lug, and wherein the first lug extends a first distance from the lower surface of the frame, the second lug extends a second distance from the lower surface of the frame, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         17 . A trench drain comprising:
 a channel including a first upper edge, a second upper edge spaced apart from the first upper edge, a base, an interior surface extending between the base and the first upper edge and the base and the second upper edge, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;   a wing coupled to the exterior surface of the channel and configured to couple to a channel strut member spaced apart from the channel;   a frame having a first rail positioned adjacent the first upper edge of the channel and a second rail positioned adjacent the second upper edge of the channel, and   a drain cover supported on the frame.   
     
     
         18 . The trench drain of  claim 17 , wherein the channel includes a first channel portion and a second channel portion, wherein the first channel portion has a first wing and the second channel portion has a second wing, and wherein the first wing and the second wing are configured to couple to a single channel strut member spaced apart from the channel. 
     
     
         19 . The trench drain of  claim 17 , wherein the frame includes a crossbar that couples the first rail to the second rail. 
     
     
         20 . The trench drain of  claim 19 , wherein the channel includes a recess configured to receive the crossbar proximate the first upper edge or the second upper edge. 
     
     
         21 . The trench drain of  claim 20 , wherein the channel strut member is coupled to the wing such that a gap is formed between the channel strut member and the exterior surface of the of the channel. 
     
     
         22 . The trench drain of  claim 21 , wherein the channel strut member has a width that is a first distance, wherein the gap has a width that is a second distance, and wherein the second distance is greater than 0.75 times the first distance. 
     
     
         23 . The trench drain of  claim 21 , wherein the channel strut member has a width that is a first distance, wherein the gap has a width that is a second distance, and wherein the second distance is less than 1.5 times the first distance. 
     
     
         24 . The trench drain of  claim 20 , wherein the wing includes an aperture configured to align with an aperture of the channel strut member such that a rod or fastener can extend through the aperture of the wing and the aperture of the channel strut member for coupling the wing to the channel strut member.