Drain Protection

Abstract

A protected drain assembly comprising a drain which is at least partially bordered by a hard surface, and which is protected by a drain cover assembly which comprises (A) a polymeric sheet which is on top of the drain and (a) comprises a central portion which, when a sediment-containing liquid is placed on top of it, allows liquid to pass through it, or (b) is substantially impervious to water; and (B) gaskets which are attached to edges of the polymeric sheet and secure the edges of the polymeric sheet to the hard surface.

1 . A drain cover assembly which can be placed over a drain in the road and which comprises
 (A) a self-supporting polymeric sheet which comprises
 (1) a central portion having a rectangular shape, 
 (2) a first side edge portion which contacts and extends from one side of the central portion, 
 (3) a second edge portion which contacts and extends from an opposite side of the central portion, 
 (4) a front edge portion which (i) contacts and extends from a front edge of the central portion and (ii) is attached to the first and second edge portions, and 
 (5) a rear edge portion which (i) contacts and extends from a rear edge of the central portion and (ii) is attached to the first and second edge portions; 
   (B) a first side edge gasket which comprises (i) an inner gasket portion which contacts and lies over or under the first side edge portion of the polymeric sheet and (ii) an outer gasket portion which extends away from the first side edge portion of the polymeric sheet;   (C) a second side edge gasket which comprises (i) an inner gasket portion which contacts and lies over or under the second side edge portion of the polymeric sheet and (ii) an outer gasket portion which extends away from the second side edge portion of the polymeric sheet;   (D) a front edge gasket which (i) comprises an inner gasket portion which contacts and lies over or under the front edge portion of the polymeric sheet, (ii) comprises an outer gasket portion which extends away from the front edge portion of the polymeric sheet and (iii) contacts the first side edge gasket and the second side edge gasket;   (E) a rear edge gasket which (i) comprises an inner gasket portion which contacts and lies over or under the rear edge portion of the polymeric sheet, (ii) comprises an outer gasket portion which extends away from the front edge portion of the polymeric sheet and (iii) contacts the first side edge gasket and the second side edge gasket.   
     
     
         2 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the central portion of the polymeric sheet comprises at least one polymeric sheet which has apertures therein. 
     
     
         3 . A drain cover assembly to  claim 2  wherein the central portion of the polymeric sheet comprises (i) a first polymeric sheet which has relatively large apertures therethrough, and (ii) another polymeric sheet which has relatively large apertures therethrough and which is the same as or different from the first polymeric sheet. 
     
     
         4 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the central portion of the polymeric sheet comprises a second polymeric sheet which is in contact with the first polymeric sheet and has relatively small apertures therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the second polymeric sheet is sandwiched between two polymeric sheets each having relatively large apertures therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the central portion of the polymeric sheet is in the form of a broad peripheral border surrounding an opening which (i) is not covered by the polymeric sheet and (ii) is surrounded by an internal gasket which includes a berm which extends upwards away from the self-supporting polymeric sheet. 
     
     
         7 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first, second, front and rear edge gaskets comprises an upstanding berm which (i) is parallel to an edge of the central portion of the polymeric sheet, (ii) is between the inner gasket portion and the outer gasket portion of the gasket, and (iii) extends upwards away from the inner gasket portion and the outer gasket portion. 
     
     
         8 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first, second, front and rear edge gaskets (a) comprises a strip of a porous nonwoven fabric and (b) includes an upstanding berm which (i) is parallel to an edge of the central portion of the polymeric sheet, (ii) is between the inner gasket portion and the outer gasket portion, (iii) extends upwards away from the inner gasket portion and the outer gasket portion, and (iv) has been formed by folding the strip of porous nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         9 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 8  wherein each of the gaskets has two ends, each of which is joined at a corner of the polymeric sheet to another gasket so that an upstanding berm continuously surrounds the polymeric sheet. 
     
     
         10 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric sheet is substantially impervious to water. 
     
     
         11 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the length of each of the sides of the central portion is 2-6 feet. 
     
     
         12 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the length of each of the sides of the central portion is 2-4 feet. 
     
     
         13 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the central portion is 4-9 inches wide and up to 7 feet long. 
     
     
         14 . A drain cover assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the width of the inner gasket portion is 2-5 inches and the width of the outer gasket portion is 3-10 inches. 
     
     
         15 . A protected drain assembly which comprises
 (1) a rectangular drain which is bordered on each side by a hard surface, and   (2) a drain cover assembly according to  claim 1 ,   
       wherein
 (a) at least part of the central portion of the polymeric sheet lies over the drain and is supported by the drain, 
 (b) at least part of the inner gasket portion of each of the first, second, front and rear edge gaskets is over the drain or over a part of the hard surface which borders the drain, and 
 (c) at least part of the outer gasket portion of each of the first second front and rear edge gaskets is over the hard surface which borders the drain. 
 
     
     
         16 . A protected drain assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the first side gasket, the second side gasket, the front edge gasket and the rear edge gasket
 (A) includes an upstanding berm which (i) is parallel to an edge of the central portion of the polymeric sheet, (ii) extends upwards away from the central portion of the polymeric sheet, and (iii) is between the inner gasket portion and the outer gasket portion, and   (B) has two ends, each of which is joined at a corner of the polymeric sheet to the end of another gasket so that an upstanding berm continuously surrounds the central portion of the polymeric sheet.   
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing a protected drain assembly comprising a rectangular drain which is at least bordered on each side by a hard surface, the method comprising
 (A) placing a rectangular polymeric sheet over the drain, and   (B) before or after step (A), providing gaskets which (i) are attached to edges of the polymeric sheet and (ii) secure the edges of the polymeric sheet to the hard surface.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the polymeric sheet comprises a central portion which, when a liquid is placed on top of it, allows the liquid to pass through it. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the polymeric sheet is substantially impervious to water.