Self-contained rigid telescoping drain conduit for recreational vehicles

Abstract

An adjustable drain conduit apparatus that is capable of draining sewage from a recreational vehicle. A flexible disposal pipe is constructed to engage the disposal fitting of a recreational vehicle at one end and to be received by a first conduit fitting at the opposite end. The first conduit fitting is coupled with a pivotally affixed hinged support leg and engaged with a rigid straight proximal drain pipe. A rigid straight distal drain pipe is telescopingly engaged with the proximal drain pipe by means of a second conduit fitting. A third conduit fitting is coupled to the free end of the distal drain pipe and is engagable with a sewer inlet port.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Present Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to fluid conduits, and more particularly to fluid conduits employed in emptying septic waste from recreational vehicles.

2. Description of Related Art

Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,367 discloses a drainage system for emptying a holding tank of a vehicle includes upright telescopic members for attachment to the vehicle outlet. Ninety degree elbows are joined in a swiveled manner and are carried by the upright tubular members and are in communication with inclined telescopic tubular members terminating in communication with the inlet of a sanitary waste system. Couplings of the present system include bayonet inlets having multiple O-rings in place thereon for sealing engagement with a bayonet outlet. The upright telescopic tubular members permit positioning of the inclined tubular members at an incline to ensure optimal drainage. Additionally the upright tubular members permit the inclined tubular members to be swung about an upright axis to facilitate attachment to a sanitary system inlet. A modified form of the system includes an elbow equipped with a bayonet inlet with multiple O-rings for coupling with the vehicle horizontal outlet. A chevron seal prevents leakage between the inclined telescopic tubular members. A lock is insertable in a bayonet inlet to prevent rotation of joined inlet and outlet. Barrett, U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,813 discloses a compact, easily stowed removable drain line for a Recreational Vehicle holding tank provides a rigid straight line flow path to prevent puddling or trapping of waste flows between Recreational Vehicle holding tank and sewage dump station. The invention also provides for minimal force transfer into the holding tank structure and the drain valve, minimizing the possibility of accidental damage or rupture of these sensitive components. In particular, no exposed components exist during movement of the Recreational Vehicle, minimizing the risk of breaching of sewage during over road movement, and the invention particularly protects against damage from accidental movement of the vehicle while attached to the sewage dump station. Duke, U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,121 discloses a temporary sewage line assembly is provided for an RV or other vehicles which may be utilized in a variety of hook ups. The assembly includes an elongated, reducing connector, a wash outlet on the connector, a telescoping conduit which pivotally attaches to the connector and a downspout for fitting within a stationary sewer line. The sewage assembly is formed from a rigid plastic which is constructed not to leak and which can be easily cleaned after use and disassembled. Sargent, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,650 discloses a rotatable telescoping drain assembly permanently mounted at the end to waste receptacle drain on the underside of a recreational vehicle consisting of a swivel coupling unit attached to an axially extensible flow hose within a telescoping support tube assembly, a tie rod assembly connected to and extending between the tube assembly and the swivel coupling unit, and a discharge spout unit connected to the other end of the telescoping support tube and flow hose assembly which includes an internal valve. The telescoping tube assembly can be relatively telescoped, the swivel coupling relatively swiveled, and the tie rod relatively pivoted to locate the spout into the inlet of appropriate waste storage facility. During travel of the vehicle the discharge spout and drain assembly is supported within an enclosed cabinet mounted on the vehicle. The telescoping drain assembly allows the vehicle operator to conveniently avoid the usual mess associated with emptying liquid waste receptacles on the vehicle. Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,224 discloses an apparatus for discharging sewage from a holding tank on a travel trailer or the like to a sewer inlet includes a flexible inlet coupling section for connecting to the discharge fitting on the holding tank, an L-shaped fixed outlet coupling section for insertion into the sewer opening, and a telescoping tube section connected to the inlet and outlet coupling sections. The joints or connection points to the flexible inlet coupling sections are sealed by hose clamps, and the connection between the tube sections and the connection between one end of the tube sections and the outlet coupling section are sealed with locking couplings having “0” rings. The flexible coupling and telescoping section accommodate various positions of the holding tank relative to the sewer inlet. A rigid tube section can be inserted between the telescoping tube section and the outlet coupling section to further increase the length of the sewage discharge apparatus. Cook, U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,702 discloses a telescoping drain line for connecting recreational vehicles to a sewage system has telescoping rigid wall drain pipes having a plurality of pipe sections telescoping one within the other. A flexible hose extends through the telescoping pipes and out each end thereof and has means for attaching to a recreational vehicle drain at one end and into a sewage line opening at the opposite end thereof. The flexible hose is attached at each end of the telescoping rigid wall drain pipe to prevent the flexible pipe from collapsing or coming out of the rigid pipes. The flexible pipe will fold within the telescoping pipe for storage of the drain line. Mercer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,347 discloses a waste evacuation attachment for a recreational vehicle comprises a rigid cylindrical housing readily mountable to the existing fittings of a sewage discharge outlet of the recreational vehicle, there being a telescoping hose contained within the housing and having a fitting on the extendable end to adapt the hose to waste receiving receptacles, the assembly eliminating the difficulties inherent in conventional recreational vehicles which require the attachment and removal of a separate hose unit whenever the vehicle hooks up at an overnight site. Gibbs, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,288 discloses a hose case for supporting and enveloping a flexible hose that is capable of longitudinal extension and contraction of the hose. The case is formed of a plurality of telescoping tubular sections, through which the hose extends, that can be relatively extended and contracted in correlation with the extension and contraction of the hose. Otto, U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,331 discloses an apparatus for evacuating the holding tank of a recreational vehicle including a flexible hose and a carrier rotatably attached to the vehicle and a rigid sleeve for supporting the hose at all times. Wolfe et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,959 discloses an extensible disposal conduit between the sewer drain of a trailer house and the intake to an underground sewerage system; the improvement consists of a plurality of telescopic tubes, preferably made of rigid but light plastic; the intake end of the innermost tube is connected by a flexible hose into an intake of the underground sewage system; the intake end of each of the outer tubes has on it a integral fitting, and inwardly projecting flange of which extends slightly beyond the inner periphery of the respective tube; the fitting extends beyond the projecting flange and a quad-ring therein is placed against the outer face of the projecting flange; the quad-ring is a compressible packing ring and it is held in place by a snap ring; the next inner tube has a portion of a reduced diameter fitting slideably in the inner periphery of the packing, but has its discharge end enlarged to slideably engage the inner periphery of the next outer tube; the shoulder this formed abuts against the projecting part of the packing flange to prevent the disengagement of the tubes; a pipe hanger is mounted on the bottom of the trailer house on which the collapsed tubes hang when not in use in close proximity to the bottom of the trailer house; a quick disengaging clamp of the pipe hanger permits the easy release of the telescopic tubes so that they can be extended and inclined to the sewerage intake.

Our prior art search with abstracts described above teaches waste disposal from recreational vehicles. Such methods of waste disposal may include the use of telescoping tubing, flexible inlet tubing, swiveled joints, and rigid support legs. However, the prior art fails to teach an adjustable drain conduit apparatus capable of draining sewage from a recreational vehicle and which is supported at an appropriate drainage slope by the use of a hinged, U-shaped support leg. The present disclosure distinguishes over the prior art providing heretofore unknown advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY

This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The apparatus is an adjustable drain conduit that is capable of draining sewage from a recreational vehicle. A flexible disposal pipe engages a disposal fitting of a recreational vehicle at one end and is received by a first conduit fitting at the opposite end. The first conduit fitting is coupled with a pivotally affixed, hinged support leg and engaged with a rigid straight proximal drain pipe. A rigid straight distal drain pipe is telescopingly engaged with the proximal drain pipe by means of a second conduit fitting. A stop, of usual construction, is included within the connection of the proximal and distal drain pipes in order to prevent separation therebetween. A third conduit fitting is coupled to the free end of the distal drain pipe and is engagable with a sewer inlet port. As is common practice, the engagement of all pipes and fittings are such that sewage leaks are prevented. When not in use, the apparatus is easily stored on the exterior of the recreational vehicle using a plurality of C-brackets positioned either under or along the side of the vehicle. The pipe sections of the apparatus rest within the space defined by the arms of the brackets and a movable pin, positioned to enclose the pipe. The support leg is of rigid material construction and U-shaped: a pair of linear side elements interconnected at the base by a bottom element. Each of the side elements is equipped with a plurality of correspondingly aligned holes; evenly and linearly spaced in the up-down direction along each side element. A suitably long pin, constructed of a rigid material and capable of withstanding the full weight of the apparatus and enclosed sewage, is extended between opposing pairs of aligned holes. The support leg is pivoted on its hinge so that the pin is supporting the proximal end of the piping at an elevation greater than that of the distal end, allowing for a desired slope in the apparatus. The slope is negative enough that sewage is transferred by gravity from the disposal pipe to the sewer inlet port.

A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide sanitary means of disposing septic waste stored in the sewage holding tank of a recreational vehicle.

A further objective is to provide a simple adjustable means of support and drainage slope for elevated waste disposal tubing.

A still further objective is to provide convenient storage for a sewage disposal draining apparatus.

A still further objective is to provide a method of sanitarily disposing septic waste stored in the sewage holding tank of a recreational vehicle.

Other features and advantages of the described apparatus and method of use will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present apparatus and method of it use. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the presently described apparatus as mounted for transport on a recreational vehicle; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above described drawing figures illustrate the described apparatus and its method of use in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the present apparatus and method of use.

Presently described is an adjustable drain conduit apparatus 10 for sanitarily draining sewage from a recreational vehicle 20 to a sewage disposal tank, such as public sani-dump stations. As, shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 is comprised of a flexible and compressible disposal pipe 12, lockably engaged with a disposal fitting 22 of the recreational vehicle 20 so as to form a seal against the leakage of waste during waste transfer. A first conduit fitting 14 is configured by its size for receiving a free end of the flexible disposal pipe 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Further, a rigid hinged support leg 30, preferably of a hard plastic or metallic construction, is pivotally engaged with the first conduit fitting 14. A rigid straight proximal drain pipe 40 is sealably engaged with the first conduit fitting 14, so as to enable a watertight junction. A rigid straight distal drain pipe 44, is telescopingly engaged with the proximal drain pipe 40, so as to allow for longitudinal extendibility of the distal drain pipe 44 in relation to the proximal drain pipe 40 as shown if FIG. 2. A second conduit fitting 16 is sealably engaged at the end of the proximal drain pipe 44, so as to further enable a watertight junction. Further, a third conduit fitting 18, sealably engagable with the free end of the distal drain pipe 44, is constructed so as to be engagable with a sewer inlet port 52 so as to complete the waste transport between the recreational vehicle 20 and the sewage disposal tank as illustrated in FIG. 2. The apparatus 10 further includes a stop (not shown), which may be a flange (not shown) engaged between the proximal 40 and distal 44 drain pipes for preventing their separation. Preferable construction materials of the apparatus 10 include: ABS plastic or other rigid materials.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support leg 30 is movable between a position approximately in line with the proximal drain pipe 40 and a position angled downwardly therefrom. Also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support leg 30, preferably constructed of a rigid material such as metal or hard plastic, is U-shaped with spaced apart side elements 32 joined by a bottom element 34. The side elements 32 are pivotally engaged with the first conduit fitting 14 by one of many known fastening means that allow pivotablity. The pivotablity of the side elements 32 enable the bottom element to rotate freely. The side elements 32 each provide a plurality of correspondingly aligned holes 36 arranged along the elements 32, whereby an appropriately long pin 38, preferably of metallic construction and able to withstand the combined weight of the apparatus 10 and enclosed sewage, is engaged between a selected pair of the holes 36 in the side elements 32. The engaged pin 38 is used as a brace for supporting the proximal end of the apparatus 10. The pin 38 sets the adjustable elevation of the first conduit fitting 14 as shown in FIG. 2, thereby setting an angle of elevation and drainage slope for the apparatus 10. The support leg 30 is also useful as a handle to assist in positioning the apparatus 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of spaced apart C-brackets 60 are mounted along the exterior of the recreational vehicle 20 using a plurality of standard fasteners 69 such as screws. The C-brackets 60 comprise a set of parallel bracket arms 62, attached to a connecting arm 64, in such a way that each of the bracket arms 62 and the connecting arm 64 are coplanar. As shown in FIG. 1, the proximal 40 and distal 44 drain pipes rest between the bracket arms 62 and the connecting arm 64. Holes 68 are placed at the ends of the bracket arms 62. A pin 38, preferably of a rigid material such as metal is inserted into the holes 68 between adjacent bracket arms 62 as shown in FIG. 1 and acts as a barrier to enclose the proximal 40 and distal 44 drain pipes and to prevent dislodgment of the apparatus 10 from the C-brackets 60 during transport over bumpy roads.

The above described apparatus is used for interconnecting a sewage holding tank (not shown) in a recreational vehicle 20 to a sewage disposal tank (not shown), such as a public sani-dump station. A user of the apparatus attaches the third conduit fitting 18, to the sewer inlet port 52 of the sewage disposal tank (not shown), and extends the rigid proximal drain pipe 40 linearly from the rigid distal drain pipe 44. The user then lowers the hinged support leg 30 to achieve the selected drainage slope of the first conduit fitting 14, which is sealably engaged with the proximal drain pipe 40. The user then interconnects the first conduit fitting 14 with a discharge valve (not shown) of the holding tank of the recreational vehicle and creates an enclosed space for which to transfer sewage.

Compact storage of the above described conduit apparatus 10 is possible by forming a C-brackets 60 with a set of parallel bracket arms 62 attached to a connecting arm 64, and mounting a set of them, spaced apart, on the exterior of the recreational vehicle, by a plurality of standard fasteners 69. A proximal end 41 and a distal end 43 of the conduit apparatus 10, are then inserted, each, into one of the C-brackets 60. Finally, a long pin 38, preferably made of metal and bent at one end to prevent dislodging, is inserted into a set of linearly aligned holes 68 present on each of the bracket arms 62, so that the conduit apparatus 10 is captured between the C-brackets 60 and the pins 62.

The enablements described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its method of use and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element.

The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.

Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.

The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.

Claims

1. An adjustable drain conduit apparatus for draining sewage from a recreational vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a flexible disposal pipe engagable with a disposal fitting of the recreational vehicle; a first conduit fitting configured for receiving a free end of the flexible disposal pipe; a hinged support leg pivotally engaged with the first fitting; a rigid straight proximal drain pipe engaged with the first fitting; a rigid straight distal drain pipe telescopingly engaged with the proximal drain pipe; a second conduit fitting engaged with a free end of the proximal drain pipe and a third conduit fitting engagable with a sewer inlet port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support leg is movable between a position approximately in line with the proximal drain pipe and a position angled downwardly therefrom.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stop engaged between the proximal and distal drain pipes for preventing separation therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support leg is U-shaped with spaced apart side elements joined by a bottom element, the side elements pivotally engaged with the first conduit fitting enabling the bottom element to rotate; the side elements each providing a plurality of holes arranged longitudinally;

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a pin engaged with a selected pair of the holes in the side elements for adjusting elevation of the first conduit fitting.

6. A method of interconnecting a holding tank in a recreational vehicle to a sewage disposal tank, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a third conduit fitting to a sewer inlet port of the sewage disposal tank; extending a proximal rigid drain pipe linearly from a distal rigid drain pipe engaged with the third conduit fitting; lowering a hinged support leg to achieve a selected elevation of a first conduit fitting engaged with the proximal drain pipe; and interconnecting the first conduit fitting with a discharge valve of the holding tank of the recreational vehicle.

7. A method of storing an adjustable drain conduit apparatus on a recreational vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: mounting spaced apart C-brackets on the recreational vehicle; inserting a proximal end and a distal end of the adjustable drain conduit apparatus, each, into one of the C-brackets; and inserting a long pin into a set of linearly aligned holes present on each of the C-brackets, whereby, the conduit apparatus is captured between the C-brackets and the pins.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of: forming each of the C-brackets with a set of parallel bracket arms attached to a connecting arm.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of: forming a set of linearly aligned holes within each set of the parallel bracket arms.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of: establishing coplanarity between each set of the bracket arms.