IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,392,122
Granted Patent B2
US 12,392,122 · App. 18/000,980 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Modular element for making underground structures for basins designed to manage meteoric waters or underground structures for retaining soil

Inventor: Mirco Pegoraro (Grantorto, IT)
E03F1/005E02B11/005E03F5/06
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 12,392,122
App. No.
18/000,980
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modular element or semi-module for making underground structures of basins for the management of meteoric waters or for retaining soil includes a substantially planar base portion and one or more pillars rising from the base portion. Each pillar is hollow and has a first external wall defining at least one internal cavity, inside the cavity there being an internal tubular stiffening wall that is spaced from the external wall and has a prismatic shape or a shape substantially corresponding to that of the external wall.

Claims (22)

1. A modular element or semi-module ( 100 ) for making underground structures for basins designed to manage meteoric waters or underground structures for retaining soil, comprising:

a planar base portion ( 101 ); and

a plurality of pillars ( 10 ) rising from said base portion ( 101 ), said plurality of pillars ( 10 ) being connected to said base portion ( 101 ) by a larger base ( 11 );

wherein each of said pillars ( 10 ) is hollow and each of said pillars ( 10 ) comprises a first external wall ( 14 ) defining an internal cavity ( 13 ),

wherein said first external wall ( 14 ) is tubular and defines said internal cavity ( 13 ),

wherein, inside said internal cavity ( 13 ) in each of said pillars, there is a stiffening tubular internal wall ( 17 ) which is spaced from said external wall ( 14 ) and has a prismatic shape or a shape corresponding to that of said external wall ( 14 ), said stiffening tubular internal wall ( 17 ) being connected to said external wall ( 14 ) by a smaller pillar base ( 12 ) opposite said larger base ( 11 ),

wherein said external wall ( 14 ) and said internal wall ( 17 ) have a same height, and

wherein said internal wall ( 17 ) and said external wall ( 14 ) are joined together by connecting partitions ( 18 ) configured to allow water to flow therethrough.

2. The modular element or semi-module ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said first external wall ( 14 ) is shaped as a truncated pyramid or has a shape suitable for stacking said modular element or semi-module with other identical modular elements or semi-modules ( 100 ).

3. The modular element or semi-module ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said first external wall ( 14 ) is ribbed or undulated.

4. The modular element or semi-module ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the smaller base of said pillars ( 10 ) comprises engagement means ( 15 , 16 ) to engage an opposite smaller base ( 12 ) of an identical, symmetrically stacked modular element or semi-module ( 100 ).

5. The modular element or semi-module ( 100 ) according to claim 4 , wherein on said base portion ( 101 ) there is a main hole ( 102 ) configured and sized so that it can be coupled with a duct of an inspection shaft, and wherein said pillars ( 10 ) are distributed around said main hole ( 102 ).

6. The modular element or semi-module ( 100 ) according to claim 5 , wherein said main hole ( 102 ) is in a central position on said base portion ( 101 ), and wherein said pillars ( 10 ) are a plurality of distributed symmetrically around said main hole ( 102 ).

7. A module ( 200 ) for making underground structures of underground basins for management of meteoric waters or for retaining soil, comprising:

two semi-modules ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein said two semi-modules ( 100 ) are arranged symmetrically so that smaller bases ( 12 ) of said one or more pillars ( 10 ) are opposite to each other and joined together.

8. A system of underground structures of underground basins for management of meteoric waters or for retaining soil, comprising:

a plurality of semi-modules ( 100 ) according to claim 5 , coupled in pairs so as to form a plurality of said modules ( 200 ) arranged symmetrically so that smaller bases ( 12 ) of said pillars ( 10 ) are opposite to each other and joined together.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said main holes ( 102 ) of said semi-modules are distributed on said system in a grid pattern with rectangular meshes, at distances included between 50 and 100 cm.

10. The system according to claim 9 , further comprising first grids ( 110 ) configured to be installed so as to close said main holes ( 102 ) of the semi-modules ( 100 ), and coupling means ( 111 , 113 ) for coupling said first grids ( 110 ) with said semi-modules ( 100 ).

11. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising second grids ( 120 ) configured to be installed so as to close said cavities ( 13 ) on a side where said base portions ( 101 ) of said semi-modules ( 100 ) are located, and coupling means ( 122 , 123 ) for coupling said second grids ( 120 ) with said semi-modules ( 100 ).

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein a shape of said second grids ( 120 ) corresponds to a shape of said larger base ( 11 ) of said pillars ( 10 ) after removal of one or more selectively detachable corners ( 121 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2023
From: PEGORARO, MIRCO
To: GEOPLAST SPA
Reel/Frame 062526/0583 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT 102020000014176 · Jun 15, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230220658A1 · Jul 13, 2023
References Cited (7)
US 9506235B2 · Adams · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9957987B2 · Wandkowski · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20120255624A1 · Canney · 2012 [cited by examiner]
AU 2010305511 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012100552 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002309659 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017095971 · 2017 [cited by applicant]