Tileable line drain systems and related methods

Abstract

A tile installation comprises a plurality of surface tiles installed upon a surface, the plurality of surface tiles defining a perimeter area that adjoins a drain area. An elongate drain pan is installed within the drain area and is fluidly coupled via at least one outlet to a drainage system to allow flow of liquid to the drainage system. The drain pan includes: an at least partially horizontal support surface; and ii) a drain pan wall having an interior face. An elongate drain tile support is removably fittable within the drain pan, the drain tile support including an upper surface to which one or more drain tiles are attached, and at least one support leg extending downwardly from the upper surface and being restable upon the support surface of the drain pan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tile installation, comprising:
 a plurality of surface tiles installed upon a surface, the plurality of surface tiles defining a perimeter area that adjoins a drain area;   an elongate drain pan, installed within the drain area and being fluidly coupled via at least one outlet to a drainage system to allow flow of liquid to the drainage system, the drain pan including: an at least partially horizontal support surface; and ii) a drain pan wall having an interior face; and   an elongate drain tile support, removably fittable within the drain pan, the drain tile support including an upper surface to which one or more drain tiles are attached, and at least one support leg extending downwardly from the upper surface and being restable upon the support surface of the drain pan.   
     
     
         2 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of some of the surface tiles extend over the drain pan wall to abut or overhang a plane extending upwardly from the interior face of the drain pan wall. 
     
     
         3 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support flange, extending laterally from the drain pan, the support flange configured to underlay adjacent surface tiles. 
     
     
         4 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , wherein all structure supporting the drain tile is at least the distance of a thickness of the drain tile away from an upper surface of the tile installation. 
     
     
         5 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support leg includes at least two support feet extending downwardly from the support leg, and further comprising at least one opening defined between the support feet to provide an area for drainage of liquid into the drain fitting. 
     
     
         6 . The tile installation of  claim 5 , further comprising a pliable material attached to lower portions of the support feet, the pliable material providing a pliable interface between the support leg and the drain pan. 
     
     
         7 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of drain tile support is substantially covered by one or more drain tiles. 
     
     
         8 . The tile installation of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of drain tiles collectively substantially cover the drain tile support. 
     
     
         9 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of drain tile support includes a bondable interface attached thereto, the bondable interface providing an improved bonding interface between the drain tile and the upper surface of the drain tile support. 
     
     
         10 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , wherein a measureable, vertical distance is defined between a bottom of the support leg and a top of the upper surface of the drain tile support, so as to elevate the drain tile above, or level with, an upper surface of the drain pan wall. 
     
     
         11 . The tile installation of  claim 1 , wherein the drain tile is located on a lateral edge of the tile installation, and wherein the adjacent surface tiles define a single slope directed toward a gap defined between edges of the drain tile and edges of adjacent surface tiles. 
     
     
         12 . A method of providing drainage for a tile installation without the use of a visible drain grate, comprising:
 coupling an elongate drain pan to a drain fitting within a drain area of a tile installation, the drain pan including i) an at least partially horizontal support surface; and ii) a drain pan wall having an interior face;   installing a plurality of surface tiles upon a surface adjacent the drain pan, the plurality of surface tiles defining a perimeter area that adjoins the drain area, at least a portion of some of the surface tiles extending over the drain pan wall to abut or overhang a plane extending upwardly from the interior face of the drain pan wall; and   fitting an elongate drain tile support within the drain pan, the drain tile support including an upper surface to which at least one drain tile can be coupled, and at least one support leg extending downwardly from the upper surface and restable upon the support surface of the drain pan; wherein   the at least one drain tile is sized so as to create a gap between lateral edges of the drain tile and adjacent surface tiles to allow drainage of liquid through the gap and into the drain fitting.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising temporarily fitting one or more installation blocks into an opening defined by the interior face of the drain pan wall; and
 abutting the surface tiles against the one or more installation blocks while installing the surface tiles adjacent the drain pan.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the installation block extends upwardly substantially coplanar with a plane defined by the interior face of the drain pan wall. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising temporarily fitting a plurality of installation blocks into the opening defined by the interior face. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the installation block is slidable along a length of the drain pan. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the drain tile is located on a lateral edge of the tile installation, and wherein the adjacent surface tiles define a single slope directed toward a gap defined between edges of the drain tile and edges of adjacent surface tiles. 
     
     
         18 . A tileable drain assembly, comprising:
 a drain pan, coupleable to a drain fitting installed within a drain area, the drain pan including: i) an at least partially horizontal support surface; and ii) a drain pan wall having an interior face; and   a drain tile support, removably fittable within the drain pan, the drain tile support including an upper surface to which a drain tile can be attached, and at least one support leg extending downwardly from the upper surface and restable upon the support surface of the drain pan; wherein   the upper surface of the drain tile support is elevated at least as high as an upper surface of the drain pan wall when the drain tile support is fitted within the drain pan.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one support leg includes at least two support feet extending downwardly therefrom, and further comprising at least one opening defined between the support feet to provide an area for drainage of liquid into the drain fitting. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the support feet include a pliable material attached thereto, the pliable material providing a pliable interface between the support feet and the drain pan. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the upper surface of drain tile support is sized so as to be substantially covered by a plurality of drain tiles. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the upper surface of drain tile support includes a bondable interface attached thereto, the bondable interface providing an improved bonding interface between the drain tile and the upper surface of the drain tile support. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one installation block, sized to fit within an opening defined by the interior face of the drain pan wall, the installation block being operable to allow surface tiles to be abutted thereagainst whilst installing the surface tiles upon the surface adjacent the drain pan. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the installation block is slidable along a length of the drain pan. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of installation blocks which collectively fill a space defined by the drain pan.