Drainage body surface unit having reinforced side wall

Abstract

A drainage body surface unit for use in a modular drainage system for accumulating precipitation water. The drainage body surface unit includes a plurality of side walls, an upper base, a lower base, and a plurality of columns extending perpendicularly between the upper base and the lower base. The columns are hollow and define a central area for water to flow therein. The side walls are reinforced externally and/or internally to increase the structural strength of the drainage body surface unit and therefore the entire drainage system.

1 . A drainage body surface unit of a drainage system, the drainage body surface unit comprising:
 an upper base;   a lower base;   a plurality of columns, wherein the plurality of columns extend between the upper base and the lower base, and wherein each of the plurality of columns includes an upper drain element and a lower drain element; and   a side wall;   wherein the side wall is reinforced with a reinforcing support.   
     
     
         2 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing support is embedded within the side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing support is comprised of rebar or other elastomeric support material. 
     
     
         4 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing support is mounted externally on the side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing support is mounted on the side wall with a fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing support is comprised of rebar or other elastomeric support material. 
     
     
         7 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing support extends to an adjacent drainage body surface unit. 
     
     
         8 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall extends between the upper base and the lower base. 
     
     
         9 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 8 , wherein the side wall is flush with the upper base and the lower base. 
     
     
         10 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of each of the plurality of columns comprises a corrugated shape. 
     
     
         11 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage body surface unit is arranged in a drainage system with a second drainage body surface unit. 
     
     
         12 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage body surface unit is arranged stacked on a second drainage body surface unit. 
     
     
         13 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the upper base and the lower base each have a plurality of holes extending in a direction perpendicular to a base plane. 
     
     
         14 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall has a plurality of holes extending in a direction perpendicular to a length of the side wall. 
     
     
         15 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall is located in an interior of the drainage body surface unit. 
     
     
         16 . A drainage body surface unit of a drainage system, the drainage body surface unit comprising:
 an upper base;   a lower base;   a column comprising drain elements and extending between the upper base and the lower base, the column having an outer surface; and   a side wall positioned away from the outer surface of the column, the side wall comprising a reinforcing support, the reinforcing support positioned in the side wall.   
     
     
         17 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 16 , the reinforcing support positioned in a notch of the side wall such that the reinforcing support in internal or flush with an outer perimeter surface of the side wall. 
     
     
         18 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 16 , the side wall further comprises a cross member attached to an outer surface, the cross member overlying the reinforcing support. 
     
     
         19 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 16 , the reinforcing support being a metal rod or rebar material. 
     
     
         20 . The drainage body surface unit of  claim 16 , the reinforcing support being an elastic elastomeric material.