Sidewall extension for drain channel system and method for extending the continuous slope of a drainage channel system

Claim 1

In a drainage channel system of the type characterized by a plurality of drainage channel segments of progressively greater length adapted to be interlocked end-to-end to provide a below grade gravity feed sloping drainage run of a predetermined length, each of said channel segments comprising a pair of opposing, spaced-apart side walls, a bottom wall connecting said side walls adjacent one end thereof, and a top opening opposite said bottom wall, said side walls and said bottom wall defining a fluid carrying space therebetween and said top opening defining a fluid entrance adapted to receive a grate; the combination therewith of a side wall extension for being mounted on top of each of the side walls of the interlocked channel segments along at least a part of the length of the sloping run and effectively increasing the total depth of each said channel segment and increasing the length of a continuously and progressively sloping run of the drainage channel system, each of said side wall extensions comprising a substantially planar body mounted on top of one of the side walls of the channel segment and including means for laterally supporting said planar body in parallel upright relation to said channel segment by engagement with a supporting bed of concrete or the like and without engagement or cooperation with an opposing side wall extension.

Claim 25

A method for extending the continuous slope of a run of a drainage channel system of the type wherein a plurality of progressively deeper channel segments are interlocked end-to-end below grade with a fluid entrance substantially even with grade, each channel segment comprising a pair of opposing, spaced-apart side walls, a bottom wall connecting said side walls adjacent one end thereof, and a top opening opposite said bottom wall, said side walls and said bottom wall defining a fluid carrying space and said top opening defining a fluid entrance adapted to receive a grate, said method comprising the steps of: a. installing progressively taller channel segments in a correspondingly progressively deeper trench, beginning at one end of a run with a channel segment having predetermined, relatively short side walls and continuing along the run with the installation of a first predetermined number of channel segments having progressively taller side walls to a point before the end of the run; b. interlocking a channel segment having relatively shorter walls with the tallest channel segment already installed thereby defining a predetermined vertically offset distance between the fluid entrance of the channel segment having the tallest side walls and adjacent channel segment having relatively short side walls; c. installing a second predetermined number of channel segments having progressively taller side walls for a predetermined distance along the run; d. affixing a side wall extension on top of each of the opposing side walls of the second predetermined number of channel segments with said side wall extensions each being of a height sufficient to collectively define a fluid entrance at the same level along the continuation of said run for a predetermined distance to the end of said run.

Claim 26

A method for extending the continuous slope of a run of a drainage channel system of the type wherein a plurality of progressively deeper channel segments are interlocked end-to-end below grade with a fluid entrance substantially even with grade, each channel segment comprising a pair of opposing, spaced-apart side walls, a bottom wall connecting said side walls adjacent one end thereof, and a top opening opposite said bottom wall, said side walls and said bottom wall defining a fluid carrying space and said top opening defining a fluid entrance adapted to receive a grate, said method comprising the steps of: a. installing progressively taller channel segments in a correspondingly progressively deeper trench, beginning at one end of a run with a channel segment having predetermined, relatively short side walls and continuing along the run with the installation of a first predetermined number of channel segments having progressively taller side walls to a point before the end of the run; b. interlocking a channel segment having relatively shorter walls with the tallest channel segment already installed thereby defining a predetermined vertically offset distance between the fluid entrance of the channel segment having the tallest side walls and adjacent channel segment having relatively short side walls; c. installing a second predetermined number of channel segments having progressively taller side walls for a predetermined distance along the run; d. affixing a side wall extension on top of each of the opposing side walls of the second predetermined number of channel segments with said side wall extensions each being of a height sufficient to collectively define a fluid entrance at the same level along the continuation of said run for a predetermined distance to the end of said run.