Automated Self-Cleaning Water Grid Floor System for Public and Private Wet Areas

Abstract

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Description

Inventors: Imran Ali (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) Tariq Ali (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automated cleaning systems, specifically to elevated false floor systems designed for public / private toilets and high-traffic wet environments. The invention concerns modular grates, drainage geometry, wash-down spray systems, and adjustable levelling supports. BACKGROUND Public and private toilets experience continuous contamination due to foot traffic, urine overspray, and waste accumulation. Manual cleaning is labour-intensive and inconsistent. Existing automated systems focus on walls or fixtures and do not adequately address floor contamination. There exists a need for a retrofit-capable self-cleaning floor system capable of flushing contaminants beneath a raised walking surface. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a false floor system incorporating stainless-steel heel-safe grate modules supported above a sloped slab. The slab channels wash water to valley drains. Beneath the grate, spray heads emit jets upward and around or mist to flush contaminants. The system is supported by adjustable leg assemblies to maintain a level surface above an aggressively sloped substrate. The spray system is controlled by a programmable timer. Two leg-support embodiments are disclosed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a grate module of the modular grate assembly; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grate module; FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the grate module; FIG. 4 is a first cross-section through the grate module, taken as indicated in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a second cross-section through the grate module, taken as indicated in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a plan view of the system installed in a wet area, showing grate modules, a wall-mounted toilet and a spray timer; FIG. 7 is a first detail perspective view of the system, showing the sloped slab, valley drainage, leg supports and a grate module raised above the slab; 2026201230   31 Aug 2026 FIG. 8 is a second detail perspective view of the system, showing the wall frame fixing and a washdown spray head on the sloped slab; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled system installed in a wet area; FIG. 10 is a first cross-section through the installed system, showing the sloped slab, waterproof membrane, wash-down spray heads and valley drainage; FIG. 11 is a second cross-section through the installed system; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a toilet door mounted on the grate assembly; FIG. 13 is a detail view of a door footing base plate spot-welded to the grate; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a seat mounted on the grate assembly; FIG. 15 is an elevation of a door frame mounted on the grate assembly; FIG. 16 is a detail perspective view of a seat footing base plate on the grate assembly; FIG. 17 is an elevation of the seat mounted on the grate assembly; FIG. 18 is a photograph of an adjustable ball-joint leg support; FIG. 19 is a photograph of installed grate modules, showing the grate surface, wall mounting and drainage arrangement; FIG. 20 is a photograph of a programmable timer installation for the spray system; FIG. 21 is a photograph of the system installed in a public toilet facility; and FIG. 22 is a further photograph of the system installed in a public toilet facility. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 1. Grate System The walking surface comprises stainless-steel heel-safe gratings, nominally 1000^1000 mm and 40 mm thick (FIGS. 1 to 5 and 19). The openings are sized to prevent the passage of a 5-cent coin. Panels may be cut to suit irregular geometry. 2. Sub-Slab and Drainage A concrete slab is formed with aggressive falls toward a valley drain (FIGS. 7, 9, 10 and 11). The upper surface is waterproofed. All wash-down water flows toward the drainage points beneath the grate. 3. Spray System Upward-facing spray heads are mounted beneath the grates and connected to a programmable controller (FIGS. 8, 10 and 11). Spray cycles may include pre-rinse, wash, and final rinse. Nozzles may be fixed, angled, or rotating. Additional sprayer heads can be fitted to spray above the grates to wash down the floor level. Detergents can be fitted if required. 2026201230   31 Aug 2026 4. Adjustable Leg Support System Two embodiments are provided: Embodiment A - Photo-Accurate Ball-Joint Support A circular SS316 base plate houses a shallow socket receiving a spherical ball with an M12 threaded rod (FIG. 18). The rod is height adjustable, allowing the grate to remain level above the sloped slab (FIGS. 7, 10 and 11). Embodiment B - Engineered Heavy-Duty Support This embodiment includes an enlarged SS316 base plate (80-120 mm diameter or triangular), a deep socket, an M12 rod with extended adjustment range, dual locking nuts, and increased angular compensation. 5. Fixture Integration Stainless-steel base plates may be spot-welded to the grate panels to support fixtures including toilet doors, partitions, and seats (FIGS. 12 to 17). Fixtures can be removed without disturbing the floor supports. 6. Control System The spray system is controlled by a programmable timer, mechanical timer, PLC, or IoT module (FIGS. 6 and 20). Cycle timing may be based on time intervals or manual activation.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning floor system comprising: a modular grate assembly forming a walking surface; a sloped structural slab positioned beneath the grate assembly; one or more wash-down spray heads arranged below and / or above the grate assembly; a valley drainage point located in a low region of the slab; and a plurality of adjustable leg supports configured to maintain the grate assembly level above the sloped slab.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each adjustable leg support comprises a base plate, a ball-joint socket, a spherical ball, and an upwardly extending threaded rod.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the threaded rod is an M12 stainless-steel rod and is vertically adjustable.

4. The system of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the grate assembly comprises stainless-steel heelsafe modules approximately 1000*1000 mm and 40 mm thick.

5. The system of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the wash-down spray heads are activated by a programmable controller.

6. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein fixture mounting plates are welded to the grate assembly to support toilet doors, partitions, or seats.

7. The system of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the ball-joint socket is formed in the base plate, the base plate is fixed to the sloped structural slab, and the spherical ball is seated within the socket such that the threaded rod extends upward to support the grate assembly.

8. The system of any one of claims 2, 3 or 7, wherein each adjustable leg support further comprises a deep socket enclosure and dual locking nuts configured to secure the threaded rod.

9. A kit for assembling the self-cleaning floor system of any one of claims 1 to 8, the kit comprising: a plurality of grate modules for forming the modular grate assembly; a plurality of adjustable ball-joint leg supports, each comprising a base plate, a socket, a spherical ball and an upwardly extending threaded rod, the leg supports being configured to engage and support the grate modules above a sloped structural slab; one or more wash-down spray heads; a programmable controller operatively connectable to the one or more wash-down spray heads to control wash-down spray cycles; and installation instructions specifying slab falls and drainage placement, wherein the grate modules, the leg supports, the one or more wash-down spray heads and the controller are so constructed that, when assembled in accordance with the installation instructions, they cooperate to form the self-cleaning floor system.

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