Multi-use adjustable fit wash-out waste containment apparatus for cement transport equipment and tools

Abstract

One embodiment of a multi-use, adjustable fit cement washout waste containment apparatus having the capability to be easily and quickly affixed to different types of common cement transport equipment and tools specific to the cement trade. The amply wide adjustable circular opening (10), fitted with a locking drawstring assembly, or toggle, can be sized to readily be affixed to the discharging ends of common cement transport equipment, namely; cement transport truck chutes, cement pump assembly chutes, power buggies, wheelbarrows, etc. Once properly affixed, the containment apparatus acts to contain solid components of the water/uncured cement slurry which results from the washout processes of such equipment and allows partially filtered water to pass through the body (14) of the apparatus. Subsequently, the apparatus, containing the filtered cement waste, can be easily removed from the cleaned equipment and transported to a municipal disposal or reclamation site. Other embodiments are described herein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/069,139, filed 2008 Mar. 13 by the present inventors.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This application relates to waste containment devices, specifically to such devices which contain waste produced from the washing out of cement transport equipment and tools.

2. Prior Art

Cement tradesmen and do-it-yourselfers use a variety of cement transport equipment and specialized tools in the process of completing cement construction projects. To properly care for and maintain these items, equipment, and tools that contact uncured cement are washed-out or rinsed off with water immediately after use. The resulting rinse-water/cement slurry is problematic to handle and the development of efficient techniques to manage this waste slurry has confounded tradesman in the past. Cement wash-out slurries, if not contained, often damage property, namely, landscaping and sewage systems, and they expose contractors to customer complaints, unneeded liability, and labor costs.

In the past, these waste slurries were haphazardly discharged on-site or directly into the nearest sewage system. Recent environmental concerns and municipal ordinances have pressured tradesmen to manage these on-site waste slurries properly. Although, several complex cement waste containment and reclamation processes and mechanical devices have been developed (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,581 (2002), U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,098 (2002), U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,633 (2006), U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,767 (2006), U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,189 (2007), U.S. Pat. No. 7,364,627 (2008)), none is compact, portable, and easy to use, and none possesses multi-use functionality to manage waste slurries on-site. U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,007 to Arbore (2004) discloses an arm assembly mounted directly to a cement delivery truck specifically designed to retain waste emanating from the truck's chute. This fixed mounted arm assembly is relatively expensive to manufacture, time consuming, complex to install, and limited to containing the on-site waste emanating from the truck's chute. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/722,153 to Inglese (2003) shows a rectangular bag with straps which is attached to a cement delivery vehicle. This device is relatively large and expensive to produce and it requires four (4) docking locations to secure its mounting straps to a cement delivery vehicle or the addition of a chute assembly to accept waste from a cement pump system.

The capacity of this device is voluminous enough to accept a quantity of waste cement that might otherwise prevent its transport without the aid of several laborers or machinery. Inglese's device cannot easily be adapted to accept the wash-out wastes produced by other common on-site cement tools and equipment, such as power buggies, wheel barrows, mixing barrels, specialized cement tools, etc. Further, Inglese's device does not possess the relatively universal mounting capability to be quickly and easily affixed to the variety of equipment named above, and therefore accept the waste slurries which result from rinsing and washing them. And finally, Inglese's device suffers from a size disadvantage that requires a relatively large space to store it both before and after use.

Advantages of the present embodiment relative to prior art include:

(a) light weight construction.
(b) adjustable opening, allowing it to “universally fit” or attach to many types of cement transport equipment and tools.
(c) ease of storage, both when empty, and fill, due to relative small size.
(d) designed to be quickly and easily mounted and removed without the use of tools.
(e) portable and easily handled by one person.
(f) relatively simple and inexpensive to produce.

These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent with consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment, a waste containment apparatus comprises a conical body having an adjustable opening on one end and the conical body being constructed of a durable porous material.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows various aspects of a containment apparatus.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 depict the multi-use functionality and “universal fit” aspect of the containment apparatus in accordance with one embodiment.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Adjustable opening
11 Enclosed drawstrings
12 Drawstring toggle
13 Body construction seams
14 Filtering reticular body
15 Flap enclosure seam
16 Closed base
17 Drawstring enclosure flap
18 Drawstring seating positions

20 Chute

22 Chute nozzle
30 Bucket structure
34 Bucket discharging side
40 Ring stand

42 Tool

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG. 1

First Embodiment

One embodiment of the waste containment apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 1 (isometric view). This containment apparatus has a porous reticular (net-like) filtering body 14. At the top edge of body 14, there is a flexible adjustable circular opening 10. Proximal to opening 10, a cincture configuration, comprises a drawstring 11, a drawstring enclosure flap 17, which is folded over to enclose drawstring 11, and a drawstring toggle 12. The drawstring 11 and the drawstring toggle 12 provide means for tightening and loosening said drawstrings so as to adjust said opening to a predetermined aperture. Drawstring enclosure flap 17 is sewn to the filtering body 14, thus creating a drawstring enclosure seam 15. Both ends of the drawstring 11 are led through a drawstring toggle 12 at two seating positions 18. In the preferred embodiment, the drawstring 11 is a flexible cord material, such as a woven hemp or nylon, or may consist of any synthetic or natural cord material that possess a high strength per diameter ratio. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the drawstring toggle 12 is a commercially available spring-actuated unit where several types are in stock at Joanne Fabric, a U.S. national chain. The filtering body 14 begins at the top edge of the circular opening 10 and terminates at the bottom-most edge of a closed base 16. In the present embodiment, the body 14 uniformly consists of 10 micron polyester felt, however it can consists of a natural felt, cotton, wool, burlap, rubber, latex, PVC, or any natural or synthetic durable, porous material. Two vertical construction seams 13 run tangent along the left and right edges of the body 14. The vertical seams 13 and the drawstring enclosure seam 15 are sewn using a high strength nylon thread; however, any natural or synthetic high strength thread may be used. Further, enclosure seam 15 may be formed by alternative processes, or methods, of joining two pieces of material. In the present embodiment, the body 14 of the waste containment apparatus is formed by cutting out and folding onto itself an hour glass shaped pattern of 10 micron polyester felt to form a conical shape approximately 36 inches from opening 10 to closed base 16. The circular opening 10 when laid flat is approximately 40 inches across, measured from left to right edges. The vertical edges are sewn together with high strength thread to form the vertical seams 13. An approximately 2 inch drawstring enclosure flap 17 consisting of the 10 micron polyester felt is folded over at the circular opening 10 to fully enclosed the drawstring 11 that encircles the opening 10. The enclosure flap 17 is secured to the conical body 14 by stitching a flap enclosure seam 15 that encircles the opening 10 at the lower edge of the flap 17.

Operation—FIGS. 2, 3, 4

Regarding equipment which utilize a chute structure to transport cement, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 10 of the containment apparatus is extended to its widest aperture and positioned to allow the chute nozzle 22 to enter the opening 10. A sufficient length of the chute 20 is inserted into the body 14 to allow attachment. Attachment is achieved by disengaging and sliding the drawstring toggle 12 along the drawstrings 11 horizontally towards the center of the opening 10, thus narrowing the opening 10 and cinching the opening 10 around the outside of the chute 20. The drawstring toggle 12 is then re-engaged to retain tension on the drawstrings 11, which hold the opening 10 in place. Once the apparatus is attached and secured to the chute nozzle 22, the chute 20 is fixed in an incline position to allow the uncured waste cement to flow into the body 14, by the aid of gravity. To expedite the removal of the uncured waste cement, pressurized water is used to rinse the chute 22 surface, which contacts uncured cement. The rinse water entrains residual solid and liquid components of uncured cement to form an effluent slurry which drains into the body 14. Upon contact with the interior of the body 14, the slurry is filtered and separated. Partially filtered water flows out of the body 14 and the majority of the solid components of the slurry remain inside the body of the apparatus. Once the rinsing process has been completed, the apparatus, containing the solid waste components, is removed by reversing the attachment process described above. The solid waste components are contained in the body 14 of the apparatus and can now be transported, stored and recycled. Once emptied, the apparatus can be rinsed and re-used in the same fashion as described above.

Additionally, equipment which utilizes a bucket structure 30, such as, a power buggy or wheelbarrow, to transport cement, is washed out in a similar fashion, as shown in FIG. 3. The opening 10 of the containment apparatus is extended to its widest aperture and positioned to allow the upper edge of the discharging side 34 of the bucket structure 30 to enter the opening 10. A sufficient section of the discharging side 34 is positioned into the body 10 to allow attachment. Attachment is achieved by disengaging and sliding the drawstring toggle 12 along the drawstrings 11 horizontally towards the center of the opening 10, thus narrowing the opening 10 and cinching the opening 10 around the upper edge of the discharging side 34. The drawstring toggle 12 is then re-engaged to retain tension on the drawstrings 11, which holds the opening 10 in place. Once the apparatus is attached and secured to the discharging side 34, the bucket structure 30 is fixed in an incline position to allow the uncured waste cement to flow into the body 14, by the aid of gravity. To expedite the removal of the uncured waste cement, pressurized water is used to rinse the interior of the bucket structure 30, which contacts uncured cement. The rinse water entrains residual solid and liquid components of uncured cement to form an effluent slurry which drains into the body 14. Upon contact with the interior of the body 14, the slurry is filtered and separated. Partially filtered water flows out of the body 14 and the majority of the solid components of the slurry remain inside the body 14 of the apparatus. Once the rinsing process has been completed, the apparatus, containing the solid waste components, is removed by reversing the attachment process described above. The solid waste components are contained in the body 14 of the apparatus and can now be transported, stored, and recycled.

In further contemplation, the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4 can be used to contain the effluent slurry produced when washing common cement placement, finishing, and hand tools 42. The opening 10 is extended to its widest aperture, and fixed in this position, either manually, or with the aid of some support structure, such as a ring stand 40, a trash receptacle, etc.. Based on their size, cement tools can either be placed inside the body 14 or positioned directly above the opening 10. Pressurized water is then used to rinse off the uncured cement adhered to the surface of the tools 42. The cement waste slurry flows directly into the body 14 where retention and separation of the solid and liquid components of the waste slurry occurs, as described above.

Advantages

From the description above, a number of additional advantages of the main and alternative embodiments of my waste containment apparatus become evident:

(a) Less labor and time required to attach, utilize and detach my waste containment apparatus relative to similarly functioning devices.
(b) Relatively less area required to perform clean-out activities; can be used in “tight” spaces.
(c) Several waste containment apparatus' can be easily stored in a relatively small space.
(d) Few moving parts and minimal maintenance required for repeated use.
(e) After being “filled” with cement waste my containment apparatus can be transported off-site and safely disposed of at a municipal landfill.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the waste containment apparatus can efficiently contain, filter, and separate cement waste slurries that result from washing cement transport equipment and tools following transport and placement activities. After use, the apparatus and the waste material contained inside can easily be disposed of similarly to municipal, “household” waste or it can be disposed of at an approved recycling site or reclamation area. Once empty, the containment apparatus can be rinsed off, dried and reused. Furthermore, due to its compact size and lightweight construction, one tradesman/laborer can easily manipulate the containment apparatus when empty or filled with waste. Relative ease of manufacturing and the existence of inexpensive, and readily available component materials, allow for relatively inexpensive production and retail costs of the apparatus. Consequently, tradesmen and do-it-yourselfers will now have an inexpensive, lightweight, portable and easy to use alternative for managing cement effluent slurries resulting from washing cement equipment.

Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. For example, the reticular body of the apparatus can have different shapes, such as oval, square, rectangular, cubical, trapezoidal, etc.. The circular opening of the apparatus can be comprised of various cincture components, such as, belt and buckle configuration, commercial hook and loop mating materials, bands comprised of rubber, metal, synthetic or natural cord, etc.. The drawstring toggle can be a commercially available unit or one fashioned from wood, metal or metal chain, plastic etc. Further, the apparatus can be secured or held in position with the addition of straps, ropes, or cord like material wrapped around the perimeter and tied in a knot, the use of adhesives, loops, hooks, clamps, rubber bands, “bungy” cord, etc. Thus, the scope of the embodiment should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. In a cement waste container of the type comprising a predetermined reticular body of porous material and having an inlet opening, the improvement wherein said body has an adjustable cincture configuration positioned proximal to said opening and a locking tensioning element.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said body of material is comprised of 10 micron polyester felt.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein said locking tensioning device is a drawstring toggle.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein said opening is adjustable from an open aperture to a predetermined closed aperture.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein said cincture configuration comprises:

a drawstring, which encircles said opening.

a 2 inch wide drawstring enclosure flap, comprised of 10 micron polyester felt, which contains said drawstring.

said toggle, wherein the ends of said drawstring are fed through and seated within the body of said toggle, and

means for tightening, loosening and applying tension to said drawstrings so as to adjust said opening to a predetermined aperture.