US5383314A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drainage and support mat
Assignee: Citizens Bank of Connecticut
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Filing: 1993-07-19
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Granted: 1995-01-24
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Expires: 2013-07-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention features a drainage and support mat used as a supporting and drainage surface beneath sods, plantings, gravel and roofs and decks of concrete. The mat is made of a high-impact plastic sheet such as polystyrene, PVC, PET, etc., and consists of evenly spaced, upwardly projecting, dimple-type protuberances. Channels that are formed between the dimple projections allow water to drain off the mat surface. For greater support and load-bearing capacity, the dimples have a substantially truncated, trapezoidal or hemispherical shape. The flattened, truncated portion (upper surface) of each dimple normally retains a small amount of drainage water. To counteract this, each of the protuberances of the mat has a slotted section in or adjacent to it. The slotted section crosses the flattened, truncated portion of the dimples, allowing any accumulating water to run off and down the sides of the protuberance.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry M. Rothberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:42
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D31/00; E02D31/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/2419; Y10T428/24215; Y10T428/24231; Y10T428/2424; Y10T428/24248; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/2457
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable sheet having a number of spaced-apart, truncated protuberances, and means defining channels running between said truncated protuberances for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said truncated protuberances having a generally flat upper surface that tends to accumulate fluid, said fluid being conveyed from said generally flat upper surface of each truncated protuberance by means defining slots running across and traversing each of said upper surfaces of said truncated protuberances, said slots forming a star-shaped pattern that conveys water off said generally flat upper surface of said truncated protuberances to said channels running between said truncated protuberances.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable sheet having a number of spaced-apart, truncated protuberances, and means defining channels running between said truncated protuberances for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said truncated protuberances having a generally flat upper surface that tends to accumulate fluid, said fluid being conveyed from said generally flat upper surface of each truncated protuberance by means defining slots running across and traversing each of said upper surfaces of said truncated protuberances, said slots forming a star-shaped pattern that conveys water off said generally flat upper surface of said truncated protuberances to said channels running between said truncated protuberances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The drainage and support mat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said truncated protuberances are shaped as truncated trapezoids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The drainage and support mat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said truncated protuberances are shaped as truncated cones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The drainage and support mat in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sheet comprises a material selected from a group of materials consisting of polystyrene, PVC, PET, cycolac, styrene, acrylics, ABS (acrylonitrile), butadiene styrene, nylon and butyl.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable sheet having a number of spaced-apart protrusions, said protrusions being shaped in a substantially truncated, hemispherical fashion to provide high-impact resistance, and means defining channels running between said protrusions for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said protrusions having a generally flat upper surface and means, adjacent thereto, defining at least one slot for conveying said fluid from said generally flat upper surface of each protrusion to said channels running between said protrusions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable sheet having a number of spaced-apart protrusions, said protrusions being shaped in a substantially truncated, hemispherical fashion to provide high-impact resistance, and means defining channels running between said protrusions for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said protrusions having a generally flat upper surface and means, adjacent thereto, defining at least one slot for conveying said fluid from said generally flat upper surface of each protrusion to said channels running between said protrusions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The drainage and support mat in accordance with claim 5, wherein said sheet comprises a material selected from a group of materials consisting of polystyrene, PVC, PET, cycolac, styrene, acrylics, ABS (acrylonitrile), butadiene styrene, nylon and butyl.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The drainage and support mat in accordance with claim 5, wherein said mat is inverted when used in a roof or deck construction, and wherein said protrusions form wells that accumulate fluid, said slots being cut through said sheet to allow for drainage of said wells.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable, high-impact plastic sheet having a number of spaced-apart protuberances, said protuberances being shaped as substantially truncated trapezoids to provide high-impact resistance and the support for heavy loads, and means defining channels running between said protuberances for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said protuberances having a generally flat upper surface that tends to accumulate fluid, said fluid being conveyed from said generally flat upper surface of each protuberance to said channels running between said protuberances by means defining an "X"-shaped slot running across each of said upper surfaces of said protuberances.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable, high-impact plastic sheet having a number of spaced-apart protuberances, said protuberances being shaped as substantially truncated trapezoids to provide high-impact resistance and the support for heavy loads, and means defining channels running between said protuberances for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said protuberances having a generally flat upper surface that tends to accumulate fluid, said fluid being conveyed from said generally flat upper surface of each protuberance to said channels running between said protuberances by means defining an "X"-shaped slot running across each of said upper surfaces of said protuberances.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The drainage and support mat in accordance with claim 8, wherein said sheet comprises a material selected from a group of materials consisting of polystyrene, PVC, PET, cycolac, styrene, acrylics, ABS (acrylonitrile), butadiene styrene, nylon and butyl.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable sheet having a number of spaced-apart, truncated protuberances, and means defining channels running between said truncated protuberances for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said truncated protuberances having a generally flat upper surface that tends to accumulate fluid, said fluid being conveyed from said generally flat upper surface of each truncated protuberance by means defining slots running across and traversing each of said upper surfaces of said truncated protuberances, said slots forming an X-shaped pattern that conveys water from said truncated protuberances to said channels running between said truncated protuberances.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
A drainage and support mat used in roof and deck construction, comprising a water-impermeable sheet having a number of spaced-apart, truncated protuberances, and means defining channels running between said truncated protuberances for providing for drainage of fluids from said mat, each of said truncated protuberances having a generally flat upper surface that tends to accumulate fluid, said fluid being conveyed from said generally flat upper surface of each truncated protuberance by means defining slots running across and traversing each of said upper surfaces of said truncated protuberances, said slots forming an X-shaped pattern that conveys water from said truncated protuberances to said channels running between said truncated protuberances.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5105595A
Cited
US5052161A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-23 | 1998-07-25 | 1999-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-23 | 2002-07-25 | 2003-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-23 | 2006-07-25 | 2007-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |