Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Happel

Thomas H. Happel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7846327
    Abstract: A storm water filter box has a floatable skimmer apparatus for preventing floatable debris from entering the filter box outlet. The filter box has an inlet and an outlet and an inlet filter located in the filter box housing. A portable skimmer is positioned in the box between the inlet and outlet and will rise and fall with the water level in the filter box to keep the top of the skimmer above the water level and force the storm water passing through the filter box under the floatable skimmer thereby blocking floatable debris from entering the filter box outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Dolores J. Happel, legal representative, Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20100230338
    Abstract: The present invention is a storm water filter system for filtering floatable debris and non-floating pollutants from storm, water passing through a storm water drain system vault. The storm water filtering system has a vault having chamber having a floating skimmer panel between the inlet thereto and the outlet therefrom. The skimmer panel has a filter passageway therethrough for filtering the storm water while the floatable skimmer panel captures floatable debris and trash from the storm water. Storm water entering the vault inlet passes through a filter element in the skimmer panel and out the vault outlet and also can pass under the floating skimmer panel when the floatable skimmer panel is floated to a raised position to thereby prevent storm water from accumulating on the inlet side of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 7785464
    Abstract: A flocculate dosing tray apparatus for placement in a storm water drain inlet under the inlet grate captures water entering the storm water drain inlet and dispenses a flocculate into the water for treatment of the interior storm water as the storm water enters the storm water drain system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20100078370
    Abstract: The present invention is a storm water filter system for filtering floatable debris and non-floating pollutants from storm water passing through a storm water drain system vault. The storm water filtering system has a vault having chamber having a wall between the inlet thereto and the outlet therefrom. The wall has a filter passageway therethrough for filtering the storm water and a floatable baffle panel covering a second passageway therethrough for capturing floatable debris and trash from the storm water. Storm water entering the vault inlet passes through a filter element and out the outlet and also can pass under the floating baffle panel when the floatable baffle panel is floated to a raised position to thereby prevent storm water from accumulating on the inlet side of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20100032363
    Abstract: The present invention is a storm water filter system for filtering floatable debris and non-floating pollutants from storm water passing through a storm water drain system. The storm water filtering system has a floatable skimmer therein for capturing floatable debris and trash from the storm water and a separate filtration system to filter non-floatable pollutants from water passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20090166279
    Abstract: A storm water filter box has a floatable skimmer apparatus for preventing floatable debris from entering the filter box outlet. The filter box has an inlet and an outlet and an inlet filter located in the filter box housing. A portable skimmer is positioned in the box between the inlet and outlet and will rise and fall with the water level in the filter box to keep the top of the skimmer above the water level and force the storm water passing through the filter box under the floatable skimmer thereby blocking floatable debris from entering the filter box outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel, Dolores J. Happel
  • Publication number: 20090152181
    Abstract: The present invention is for a self-cleaning filter basket for an overflow structure for a retention pond or storm water system. The filter basket is attached to the overflow structure over the outlet weir so that floating debris, such as trash, leaves, glass clippings, tree stems, and the like, is captured by the filter basket while sand, gravel and non-floating materials pass through the filter screen. The self-cleaning filter basket screens are cleaned by water, such as rain water, being directed through openings in the top of the filter basket to impinge against the angled screen sides in the filter basket to flush accumulated debris therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20090145829
    Abstract: A flocculate dosing tray apparatus for placement in a storm water drain inlet under the inlet grate captures water entering the storm water drain inlet and dispenses a flocculate into the water for treatment of the interior storm water as the storm water enters the storm water drain system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 7294256
    Abstract: A storm water filter system for filtering storm water being fed into an in-ground well includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, with the outlet being connected to an in-ground recharge well. A plurality of open chambers are formed in the housing. An inlet filter box has an open end located in the housing and positioned with the open end facing the housing inlet. An outlet screen filter is positioned over the outlet for capturing debris from water entering the outlet and has a bypass for water to pass when the filter becomes partially blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 7270747
    Abstract: An in-line storm water drain system and a filter basket for a storm water drain system are provided in which the storm water drain system has a housing having an inlet and outlet thereinto and interior walls forming a plurality of chambers therein. The filter basket has a rigid frame and a plurality of screened sides and is attached to the interior walls. The filter basket has a pair of top screen filter doors and a pair of bottom screen filter doors to allow entry into the filter basket and on through to the bottom of the filter basket for cleaning the chambers. An inlet feed chute is attached to the filter basket open end and also has a screen bottom door and directs water from the housing inlet to and through the filter basket while collecting debris in the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 6979148
    Abstract: A method of making a golf course green drainage system and the system made from the process which includes forming a drainage system field in a golf course green and coupling a drain pipe to the drain field for channeling water collected from the drain field. The process includes selecting a filter system having an inlet and a discharge for filtering water from the golf course green drainage field and placing the selected filter underground remotely from the golf course green and connecting the drain pipe thereto. The filter system discharge is connected to a retention pond so that water collected on a golf course green drainage field is filtered prior to being fed into the retention pond. The process includes selecting a filter having a housing and a hydrocarbon absorbent filter medium therein having a filter screen covering over the hydrocarbon absorbent medium and having a water deflector adjacent the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20030175079
    Abstract: A method of making a golf course green drainage system and the system made from the process which includes forming a drainage system field in a golf course green and coupling a drain pipe to the drain field for channeling water collected from the drain field. The process includes selecting a filter system having an inlet and a discharge for filtering water from the golf course green drainage field and placing the selected filter underground remotely from the golf course green and connecting the drain pipe thereto. The filter system discharge is connected to a retention pond so that water collected on a golf course green drainage field is filtered prior to being fed into the retention pond. The process includes selecting a filter having a housing and a hydrocarbon absorbent filter medium therein having a filter screen covering over the hydrocarbon absorbent medium and having a water deflector adjacent the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel