IP Library Granted Patent US 9,458,616
Granted Patent B2
US 9,458,616 · App. 13/572,643 · Granted Oct 4, 2016

Floor sink frame and grate assembly

Inventor: Michael James Whiteside (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: MIFAB, Inc.
E03F5/06Y10T29/49826
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,458,616
App. No.
13/572,643
Granted
Oct 4, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modular design for a floor sink frame and grate assembly. The standard floor grate sizes are whole, one half, and three-quarter. Instead of stocking each of these sizes, the present invention provides a modular system where individual pieces can be stocked and combined to form all of the above configurations.

Claims (18)

1. A floor sink frame and grate system, comprising: a frame defining a perimeter surrounding a central opening, the frame having an upstanding wall with an upper surface, the upstanding wall disposed along at least a portion of the perimeter, the frame having a recessed portion disposed in spaced apart relation to the upper surface to form a shelf extending around at least a portion of the perimeter, the frame having a cross member extending from a first side of the frame toward a second side of the frame along a midportion of the frame; at least one first grate member having an area approximately equal to one-quarter of the area of the opening, the first grate member having a plurality of bars and a plurality of elongated openings defined therein to form an open lattice work permitting the passage of liquid through the first grate member, the first grate member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the first grate member to the recessed portion and the cross member, the at least one first grate member being supported by the recessed portion and the cross member; a second grate member having an area approximately equal to one-half of the area of the opening, the second grate member having a plurality of bars and a plurality of elongated openings defined therein to form an open lattice work permitting the passage of liquid through the second grate member, the second grate member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the second grate member to the recessed portion, the second grate member being supported by the recessed portion;

a first cover member having an area approximately equal to one-quarter of the area of the opening, the first cover member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the first cover member to the frame;

a second cover member having an area approximately equal to one-half of the area of the opening, the second cover member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the second cover member to the frame; and,

wherein two or more selected from the group consisting of the first grate member, the second grate member, the first cover member, and the second cover member are combined to form one of a whole, three-quarter, and one-half grate configuration.

2. The floor sink frame and grate system of claim 1 , wherein the cross member has a midportion having a width greater than the remainder of the cross member.

3. The floor sink frame and grate system of claim 1 , wherein the cross member has a midportion that extends towards the perimeter of the frame.

4. The floor sink frame and grate system of claim 3 , wherein the midportion of the cross member is arcuate.

5. The floor sink frame and grate system of claim 1 , wherein the overall shape of the frame is rectangular.

6. The floor sink frame and grate system of claim 1 , wherein the overall shape of the frame is circular.

7. A method of making a modular floor sink frame and grate system, comprising the steps of: providing a frame defining a perimeter surrounding a central opening, the frame having an upstanding wall with an upper surface, the upstanding wall disposed along at least a portion of the perimeter, the frame having a recessed portion disposed in spaced apart relation to the upper surface to form a shelf extending around at least a portion of the perimeter, the frame having a cross member extending from a first side of the frame toward a second side of the frame along a midportion of the frame; providing a first grate member having an area approximately equal to one-quarter of the area of the opening, the first grate member having a plurality of bars and a plurality of elongated openings defined therein to form an open lattice work permitting the passage of liquid through the first grate member, the first grate member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the grate member to the frame, the first grate member being supported by the recessed portion and the cross member when the first grate member is installed in the frame; providing a second grate member having an area approximately equal to one-half of the area of the opening, the second grate member having a plurality of bars and a plurality of elongated openings defined therein to form an open lattice work permitting the passage of liquid through the second grate member, the second grate member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the second grate member to the frame, the second grate member being supported by the recessed portion when the second grate member is installed in the frame; providing a first cover member having an area approximately equal to one-quarter of the area of the opening, the first cover member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the first cover member to the frame; the first cover member being supported by the recessed portion and the cross member when the cover member is installed in the frame; providing a second cover member having an area approximately equal to one-half of the area of the opening, the second cover member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the second cover member to the frame; the second cover member being supported by the recessed portion when the cover member is installed in the frame; and

combining the grate members and cover members to form one of a whole, three-quarter and one-half grate configuration.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cross member has a midportion having a width greater than the remainder of the cross member.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cross member has a midportion that extends towards the perimeter of the frame.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the midportion of the cross member is arcuate.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the overall shape of the frame is rectangular.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the overall shape of the frame is circular.

13. A method of making a modular floor sink frame and grate system, comprising the steps of: providing a frame defining a perimeter surrounding a central opening, the frame having an upstanding wall with an upper surface, the upstanding wall disposed along at least a portion of the perimeter, the frame having a recessed portion disposed in spaced apart relation to the upper surface to form a shelf extending around at least a portion of the perimeter, the frame having a cross member extending from a first side of the frame toward a second side of the frame along a midportion of the frame; providing a first grate member having an area approximately equal to one-quarter of the area of the opening, the first grate member having a plurality of bars and a plurality of elongated openings defined therein to form an open lattice work permitting the passage of liquid through the first grate member, the first grate member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the grate member to the frame, the first grate member being supported by the recessed portion and the cross member when the first grate member is installed in the frame; providing a second grate member having an area approximately equal to one-half of the area of the opening, the second grate member having a plurality of bars and a plurality of elongated openings defined therein to form an open lattice work permitting the passage of liquid through the second grate member, the second grate member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the second grate member to the frame, the second grate member being supported by the recessed portion when the second grate member is installed in the frame; providing a first cover member having an area approximately equal to one-quarter of the area of the opening, the first cover member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the first cover member to the frame; the first cover member being supported by the recessed portion and the cross member when the cover member is installed in the frame; providing a second cover member having an area approximately equal to one-half of the area of the opening, the second cover member having a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners for attaching the second cover member to the frame; the second cover member being supported by the recessed portion when the cover member is installed in the frame; and,

combining two or more selected from the group consisting of the first grate member, the second grate member, the first cover member and the second cover member to form one of a whole, three-quarter and one-half grate configuration.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2018
From: MIFAB, INC.
To: MI-FAB MANUFACTURING, LLC
Reel/Frame 044640/0823 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2013
From: WHITESIDE, MICHAEL J.
To: MIFAB, INC.
Reel/Frame 029617/0705 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61522809 · Aug 12, 2011
Related Publication 20130036546A1 · Feb 14, 2013