Floor drain with drain field

Abstract

A floor drain system includes a tray having a well, a riser installable in the tray, and a plurality of beads fixable within the well and outside the riser. The tray includes a perimeter flange attachable to a subfloor, and the well extends downwardly from the perimeter flange. A hollow stem extends downwardly from the well and is connectable to a drain pipe. The riser is installable at a selectable elevation within the stem of the tray, and has an interior drainage pathway orientable toward the drain pipe. The riser defines a seepage pathway outside of the riser and within the stem. The plurality of beads, when fixed together, form a permeable drain field bonded to both the riser and the tray, whereby liquid can pass through the drain field to the seepage pathway.

1 . A floor drain system, comprising:
 a tray, having a perimeter flange attachable to a subfloor, a well extending downwardly from the perimeter flange, and a hollow stem extending downwardly from the well and connectable to a drain pipe;   a riser, installable at a selectable elevation within the stem, having an interior drainage pathway orientable toward the drain pipe, and defining a seepage pathway that permits fluid communication between a region outside of the riser and an interior of the stem; and   a plurality of beads, fixable within the well outside of the riser, to form a permeable drain field bonded to both the riser and the tray, whereby liquid can pass through the drain field to the seepage pathway.   
     
     
         2 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , the riser further comprising a top inlet portion configured to receive a drain grate in only a friction fit. 
     
     
         3 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the beads are fixable via a chemical solvent, selected to produce a solvent weld between and among the beads and the riser and the tray. 
     
     
         4 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the tray, the riser and the beads are comprised of ABS plastic. 
     
     
         5 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the beads are about 5 mm in size and substantially regular in shape. 
     
     
         6 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a hole extending through each bead. 
     
     
         7 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , the tray further comprising:
 a discontinuous helical thread, disposed within the interior of the stem; and   the riser further comprising a downwardly oriented stem, having a plurality of external helical threads configured to mate with the discontinuous helical thread of the stem of the tray, whereby the riser threads into the tray, the discontinuities of the helical thread of the stem defining the seepage pathway.   
     
     
         8 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising at least one vertical friction bar, positioned within the stem of the tray and below the helical thread, configured to self-thread with the external helical threads of the stem of the riser. 
     
     
         9 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , the perimeter flange of the tray further comprising ridges, configured for bonding with a waterproofing layer placed thereabove. 
     
     
         10 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the tray is substantially circular in shape, and the riser has a top inlet portion that is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         11 . A drain tray for a floor drain, comprising:
 a perimeter flange configured to attach to a subfloor;   a well, defined by a wall extending downwardly from the perimeter flange;   a stem, downwardly extending from the well, configured to communicate with a drain conduit, and to receive a drain body attached thereinto, the stem defining a seepage pathway that permits drainage from outside of the drain body, into the well and into the drain conduit;   the well being configured to receive a plurality of beads, fixable via a chemical solvent to form a permeable drain field bonded to both the drain body and the wall of the well, whereby liquid entering the drain field outside of the drain body can enter the seepage pathway.   
     
     
         12 . A drain tray in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the stem includes an internal helical thread configured to mate with external helical threads of the drain body, the helical thread defining a plurality of gaps defining the seepage pathway. 
     
     
         13 . A drain tray in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of self-threading protrusions within the stem of the tray and below the helical thread configured to self-thread with the helical threads of the drain body. 
     
     
         14 . A drain tray in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of ridges, disposed atop the perimeter flange, configured to bond with a waterproofing layer placed thereabove. 
     
     
         15 . A drain tray in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the tray is substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         16 . A floor drain system, comprising:
 a drain tray, having a perimeter flange configured to attach to a subfloor, a well disposed within and extending downwardly from the perimeter flange, and a stem extending downwardly from the well and configured to communicate with a drain pipe;   a drain body, installable at a selectable elevation within the stem of the drain tray, having an interior drainage pathway, and defining a seepage pathway between the drain body and the stem;   a quantity of polymer beads, sufficient to fill the well substantially up to the perimeter flange; and   a chemical solvent, suitable to be poured over the polymer beads within the well and to bond the beads to each other and to the drain tray and the drain body, forming a permeable drain field whereby liquid in the well and outside the drain body can pass to the seepage pathway.   
     
     
         17 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the stem of the drain tray includes an internal helical thread configured to mate with external helical threads of the drain body, the helical thread including a plurality of gaps defining the seepage pathway. 
     
     
         18 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of self-threading protrusions, within the stem of the drain tray and below the helical thread, configured to self-thread with the helical threads of the drain body. 
     
     
         19 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the drain tray, the drain body, and the beads comprise ABS plastic, and the solvent comprises lacquer thinner. 
     
     
         20 . A floor drain system in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of ridges, disposed atop the perimeter flange, configured to bond with a waterproofing layer placed thereabove.