Apparatus for removing standing water

Abstract

A manually-operated, self-contained apparatus for removing standing water from an athletic field.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/342,046 filed Apr. 8, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus for removing standing water. More particularly, it is a manually-operated, self-contained apparatus for removing standing water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Not infrequently, when people gather to play sports outdoors, such as baseball, softball, football and soccer, they find standing water on the athletic field on which they would like to play. The standing water can come from rain, particularly in the spring and fall, and sprinkler systems, particularly in the summer. Many times these fields are not near any electrical service.

The standing water can be removed using a pail, but a pail is generally not available as it is bulky and not generally included in the athletic equipment brought to the athletic field. Other devices in the prior art, such as the “super-sopper” 10 shown in FIG. 1, are less bulky but are not self-contained. One end 11 of the super sopper pump is placed in a puddle. The end 12 of the piston 13 extending out of the other end 14 of the pump is pulled away from the other end 14 of the pump, causing water to be first pulled into the body 15 of the pump and then expelled out the faucet 16 attached to the body 15 of the pump. This device requires a hose to be attached to the faucet 16 or a bucket into which to pump the water being expelled out the faucet 16.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing standing water from athletic fields that is manually-operated and self-contained. It is a further purpose to provide such an apparatus that is lightweight and not bulky so that it can be stored with, and carried with, the athletic equipment brought to the athletic field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a pump of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away drawing of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a manually-operated, self-contained apparatus for removing standing water. A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

This embodiment comprises a tube 19 with a first end 20, a second end 21, and a diameter 23. The tube 19 is preferably constructed of a rigid, lightweight material such as polystyrene plastic or other material known to those skilled in the art. The first end 20 has an opening 22 smaller than the diameter 23 of the tube 19. A screen 24 is placed over the first end 20 to keep mud or gravel from being drawn into the tube 19.

A plunger 30 has a first end 31 in the tube 19 and a second end 32 extending out the second end 21 of the tube 19. The first end 31 is connected to a plunger head 34 that forms a water-tight seal with the inner wall 35 of the tube 19. The second end 32 of the plunger is attached to a handle 33.

In operation, the first end 20 of the tube 19 is placed in a puddle of standing water, the second end 32 of the plunger 30 is pulled away from the second end 21 of the tube 19, causing water 40 to be drawn into the tube 19. The tube 19 is then carried to another location and the second end 32 of the plunger 30 is pressed toward the second end 21 of the tube, causing water to be expelled from the first end 20 of the tube 19. This process is repeated until the standing water in the puddle is substantially removed.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing standing water comprising:

a tube with an inner wall and a first end and a second end;

an opening in the first end of the tube over which a screen is placed;

a plunger with a first end in the tube and a second end extending out of the second end of the tube;

a plunger head connected to the first end of the plunger, which plunger head forms a water-tight seal with the inner wall of the tube; and

a handle connected to the second end of the plunger.