RAPID RELEASE DEVICE FOR FOLDING FRAME TANK DRAIN SLEEVES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

Drain sleeve retention and release assembly embodiments having a pivotable bar rotatably attached to a water tank frame and a releasable attachment mechanism attached to the frame, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position a retracted position, wherein a flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the frame when the releasable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application 63/515,631, filed Jul. 26, 2023 and entitled “Rapid Release Device for Folding Frame Tank Drain Sleeves and Related Systems and Methods,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The various embodiments herein relate to water tanks used by firefighters, and especially portable, collapsible water tanks that can be deployed as needed.

BACKGROUND

Portable, collapsible folding frame water tanks are used by firefighters as an additional water source when the water carried in firetruck tanks is insufficient or in other situations where a collapsible tank is useful. Such collapsible folding frame tanks must be drained of all remaining water after the fire. Typically, folding frame tanks have one or more drain sleeves in the flexible receptacle for draining the unused water. The drain sleeve must not leak water when the tank is filled and it must drain water quickly when deployed.

In operation, a drain sleeve is movable between a closed or sealed position (to retain water within the tank) and an open position that allows water to exit the tank via the sleeve. Typically, a drain sleeve is maintained in the closed or sealed position by positioning the drain sleeve in the interior of the flexible receptacle (by inverting the sleeve) and extending the end of the inverted sleeve upward over the top rail of the frame and attaching it to an exterior portion of the wall. For example, the end of the sleeve can be clipped with a caribeaner through a grommet to a rope hold which is welded to the exterior of the tank wall approximately midway between the top and bottom rail. The positioning of the inverted sleeve over the top rail with attachment to the exterior of the tank wall ensures water can fill the tank to the top rail and be retained within the tank without leakage.

When the tank is to be drained, the end of the drain sleeve is detached from the exterior of the tank wall, pulled out of the interior of the flexible receptacle, and allowed to be extended in a position parallel to the ground away from the tank. In the exemplary version discussed above, the caribeaner is unclipped and a strap of webbing which has been threaded through the drain sleeve to the exterior of the tank is pulled. When the webbing is pulled, it pulls the drain sleeve through the tank wall from its inverted configuration to a position outside the receptacle and extends the drain sleeve away from the tank.

There are several disadvantages to the mechanisms used to maintain the drain sleeve in the closed position. The drain sleeve caribeaner attachment and pull-through strap are difficult for firefighters to use. More specifically, the caribeaners get lost and are hard to manipulate with gloves on, while the pull strap is difficult to find and it requires significant strength and technique to pull the drain sleeve through the tank wall. Further, when the firefighter successfully pulls the drain sleeve through the wall, the firefighter is typically standing in line with the sleeve and the water discharges onto the firefighter.

In fact, the substantial disadvantages often result in firefighters not using the caribeaner clip or the pull through strap. Instead, firefighters often tie the drain sleeve with rope to the top rail after looping the drain sleeve from the outside of the tank. However, when the sleeve is not tied properly, the end of the drain sleeve is lower than the top rail, which causes the tank to leak below the full level. Also, the rope used to tie off the sleeve cannot be un-tied with gloves on.

There is a need in the art for an improved device or mechanism for retaining a drain sleeve in its closed position on a foldable frame water tank.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Discussed herein are various mechanisms or assemblies and related methods for releasably attaching a drain sleeve to a portable water tank such that the drain sleeve can be easily attached to the tank to reduce or eliminate water loss from the tank during use and further can be easily released from the tank to drain water from the tank and/or collapse the tank.

In Example 1, a releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly for a portable water tank comprises a pivotable bar pivotably attached to a first vertical post of a frame of the water tank, wherein the pivotable bar is movable between a clamped position adjacent to a top rail of the frame and a released position and a releasable attachment mechanism attached to a second vertical post adjacent to the first vertical post, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position in which the releasable attachment mechanism retains the pivotable bar in the clamped positioned between the releasable attachment mechanism and the top rail and a retracted position. A flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the top rail when the releaseable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.

Example 2 relates to the releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly according to Example 1, wherein the released position comprises a portion of the pivotable bar being disposed at some distance from the top rail of the frame such that the portion of the pivotable bar is not adjacent to the top rail.

Example 3 relates to the releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly according to Example 1, wherein the pivotable bar comprises a first end, wherein the first end is pivotably attached to the first vertical post.

Example 4 relates to the releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly according to Example 3, wherein the pivotable bar comprises a second end opposite the first end, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar at a location near the second end when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

Example 5 relates to the releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly according to Example 1, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism comprises a deployable plunger and a handle operably coupled thereto, wherein the deployable plunger is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

Example 6 relates to the releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly according to Example 5, wherein the handle is movable into a parallel position such that the deployable plunger is urged into an extended position, whereby the pivotable bar is urged into the clamped position.

In Example 7, a portable water tank comprises a foldable receptacle comprising a bottom wall and vertical sidewalls and a frame configured to support the sidewalls in an upright position, the frame comprising at least three frame sides, wherein each frame side comprises a top rail, a bottom rail, and at least three vertical posts coupled to the top rail and the bottom rail. The portable water tank further comprises a flexible drain sleeve attached to one of the vertical sidewalls, the flexible drain sleeve comprises a lumen defined therein, wherein the lumen is in fluidic communication with an interior of the foldable receptacle, wherein the flexible drain sleeve extends from one of the at least three frame sides such that the flexible sleeve is disposed between a first vertical post of the at least three vertical posts and a second vertical post of the at least three vertical posts and a releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly. The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly comprises a pivotable bar pivotably attached to the first vertical post, wherein the pivotable bar is movable between a clamped position adjacent to the top rail and a released position and an releasable attachment mechanism attached to the second vertical post, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position in which the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position between the releasable attachment mechanism and the top rail and a retracted position. The flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the top rail when the releaseable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.

Example 8 relates to the portable water tank according to Example 7, wherein the pivotable bar comprises a first end, wherein the first end is pivotably attached to the first vertical post and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is substantially adjacent to the top rail and the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position.

Example 9 relates to the portable water tank according to Example 8, wherein the second end is not adjacent to the top rail or the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is in the released position.

Example 10 relates to the portable water tank according to Example 8, wherein the second end is movable away from the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is urged toward the retracted position.

Example 11 relates to the portable water tank according to Example 8, wherein the second end is moveable toward the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is urged toward the clamped position.

Example 12 relates to the portable water tank according to Example 8, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar at a location near the second end when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

Example 13 relates to the portable water tank according to Example 7, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism comprises a deployable plunger and a handle operably coupled thereto, wherein the deployable plunger is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

Example 14 relates to the portable water tank according to Example 13, wherein the handle is movable into a parallel position such that the deployable plunger is urged into an extended position, whereby the pivotable bar is urged into the clamped position.

In Example 15, a method of using a portable water tank drain sleeve comprises placing a flexible drain sleeve over a pivotable bar, wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached to a frame of a portable water tank, actuating a releasable attachment mechanism to urge the pivotable bar upward toward a top rail such that the pivotable bar is adjacent to or in contact with the top rail, whereby the pivotable bar and the flexible drain sleeve are disposed in a clamped position such that the flexible drain sleeve is fixedly disposed between the pivotable bar and the top rail, and actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail, whereby the flexible drain sleeve is released from the clamped position.

Example 16 relates to the method according to Example 15, wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached to a first vertical post of the frame, and wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is attached to a second vertical post of the frame.

Example 17 relates to the method according to Example 16, wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached at a first end of the pivotable bar to the first vertical post of the framed, wherein the pivotable bar further comprises a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is substantially adjacent to the top rail and the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position.

Example 18 relates to the method according to Example 17, wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail results in the second end moving away from the top rail and the second vertical post.

Example 19 relates to the method according to Example 15, wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to urge the pivotable bar upward further comprises actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to move into a deployed position such that the releasable attachment mechanism urges the pivotable bar upward into the clamped position.

Example 20 relates to the method according to Example 15, wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail further comprises actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to move into a retracted position.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes various illustrative implementations. As will be realized, the various embodiments herein are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable water tank with a drain sleeve, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a side view of a quick-release sleeve attachment apparatus on a portable water tank, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the quick-release sleeve attachment apparatus of FIG. 2A, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a portable water tank with a quick-release sleeve attachment apparatus in use on the tank, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments herein relate to a mechanism or device for the retention and quick release of a drain sleeve on a portable, collapsible water tank.

As shown in FIG. 1, a portable water tank 10 has a folding frame 12 and a flexible receptacle 14 made from conventional foldable water-tight material. The receptacle 14 has a bottom wall (also referred to herein as “floor”) 16 and vertical sidewalls 18 secured to the frame 12 at the upper rails 20 of the frame 12. The frame 12 forms a free-standing structure to provide support to the sidewalls 18 in the vertical position so as to keep the receptacle 14 in the open position as shown in FIG. 1 such that the tank 10 can receive water.

The frame 12 in FIG. 1 is depicted with four sides 22, but any number of sides may be used. Each side 22 includes the upper rail 20 mentioned above, a lower rail 24 and at least two vertical posts 26 joining the lower rail 24 to the upper rail 20. In the specific embodiment as shown, each side 22 has two end posts 26A and four interior posts 26B. Alternatively, each side 22 can have one interior post, two interior posts, three interior posts, five interior posts, six interior posts, seven interior posts, eight interior posts, nine interior posts, 10 interior posts, or any number of interior posts depending on the size of the tank. The frame 12 is preferably made from tubular members of any cross-sectional shape, such as square, and light-weight material, such as aluminum, for portability.

The frame 12 of such a foldable water tank 10 can have hinges (not shown) that allow for the frame 12 to be collapsible. For example, such foldable frames are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,905,368 and 7,938,291, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The receptacle 14 has at least one drain sleeve 28 that is coupled to and extends from a sidewall 18 near the floor 16. More specifically, the drain sleeve 28 connects to an opening (not shown) in the sidewall 18 of the receptacle 14. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the drain sleeve 28 can extend from the sidewall 18 such that it extends over the lower rail 24. The drain sleeve 28 is framed by a pair of the posts 26 and portions of the upper and lower rails 20, 24. Each drain sleeve 28 can be made from the same flexible and pliable material as the receptacle 14.

In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the foldable water tank frame 12 (or any similar frame or foldable tank) can have a quick-release sleeve attachment apparatus 40. The apparatus 40 includes a releasable attachment mechanism 44 and a pivotable bar 42 that can be used to attach or otherwise retain the drain sleeve (such as sleeve 28) to the frame 12 on the exterior of the tank (such as tank 10) and further can allow for quick release of the sleeve 28. The elongate pivotable bar 42 is rotatably attached to the frame 12 (or any such frame), and the releasable attachment mechanism (or “clamp”) 44 attaches or clamps the pivotable bar 42 to the frame 12. The elongate pivotable bar 42 is rotatably attached to the frame 12 via a hinge 46 such that the unattached end 48 of the bar 42 (the end 48 opposite the hinge 46) can rotate toward or away from the top rail 20 as shown via arrow A. In the exemplary implementation as shown, the attachment clamp 44 is a toggle clamp 44, and in this specific example, a straight-line or push-pull toggle clamp such as the push-pull toggle clamps commercially available from Powertec. The attachment clamp 44 has a deployable plunger 44A and an actuation handle 44B coupled thereto such that movement of the handle 44B causes movement of the plunger 44A as will be described in further detail below. Alternatively, any known clamp or attachment mechanism that can allow for attachment or retention of the bar 42 to the top rail 20 and quick-release therefrom can be used. As noted above, the exemplary attachment clamp 44 as shown is configured to move between a deployed position and a retracted position. The deployed position is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B (and FIG. 3 as discussed below) in which the handle 44B is in the parallel position 44B2 and the plunger 44A is in the extended position. In the retracted position, the handle 44B is in the angled position 44B1 and the plunger 44A is retracted toward the clamp 44 and away from the top rail 20.

According to the specific embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the hinge 46 is attached to a top portion of the post 26 adjacent to the target drain sleeve (such as sleeve 28, for example). Further, the hinge 46 is attached to the post 26 such that the hinge 46 is disposed adjacent to the top rail 20 such that the bar 42 can rotate into contact or near-contact with the top rail 20 as shown. Alternatively, the hinge 46 can be attached to any post 26 on the frame 12. Further, the clamp 44 is attached to the adjacent post 26 (opposite the hinge 46 and adjacent to the sleeve—such as sleeve 28) and substantially adjacent to (or beneath) the top rail 20. As such, the straight-line plunger 44A of the clamp 44 can be positioned to be in contact with the bar 42 when the bar 42 is in the clamped position and the plunger 44A is in the deployed position, thereby retaining the bar 42 in place in its clamped position against or adjacent to the top rail 20 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Alternatively, other types of known clamps that could be used in the various embodiments herein could be attached to the top rail 20 or elsewhere on the frame 12 so long as the clamp can successfully clamp the bar 42 against the top rail 20.

In accordance with one implementation, the elongate pivotable bar 42 can be made of aluminum, steel, or any other known metal material typically used in foldable frame water tanks. In certain specific embodiments, the bar 42 is made of the same material as the components of the frame 12. The hinge 46 can be any standard hinge typically used in foldable frame water tanks. In addition, the releasable attachment mechanism 44 is attached to the post 26 via an attachment bracket 50 (that can be provided as an integral component of the mechanism 44 or can be provided separately from the mechanism 44) or any other known mechanism (either integral to the clamp 44 or provided separately) for attaching a clamp 44 to a component of a frame of a foldable water tank such as frame 12 of tank 10.

In use, as best shown in FIG. 3, the end of the drain sleeve 28 is extended upward and draped or otherwise positioned over the pivotable bar 42 and under the top rail 20 such that the sleeve 28 is positioned therebetween. Once the sleeve 28 is positioned as desired, the clamp 44 is urged into the deployed position as shown in FIG. 3 (and as described in detail above) such that the plunger 44A urges the pivotable bar 42 upward toward the top rail 20. That is, the user (such as a firefighter) urges the pivotable bar 42 upward toward the top rail 20 until the bar 42 is between the plunger 44A of the clamp 44 and the top rail 20. Then the user urges the handle 44B into the deployed position such that the plunger 44A pushes the pivotable bar 42 toward the top rail 20. In certain embodiments, the clamp 44 is positioned on the frame 12 such that the plunger 44A urges the pivotable bar 42 into the desired position whereby the sleeve 28 is fully clamped between the bar 42 and the rail 20 and retained in place as a result. This results in the sleeve 28 being clamped between the bar 42 and the top rail 20 such that the opening through the sleeve 28 is fluidically sealed, thereby allowing the tank 10 to be filled to the top rail 20 with water.

In certain embodiments, the drain sleeve 28 is folded before being positioned over the pivotable bar 42 as described above. That is, according to one specific implementation, the sleeve 28 is folded in half along the centerline axis of the sleeve 28 and then folded again perpendicular to the centerline axis thereof. Alternatively, the sleeve 28 can be folded solely along the centerline axis, solely perpendicular to the centerline axis, or folded in any other manner prior to being positioned over the bar 42.

When it is time to drain the water from the tank 10 or otherwise release the drain sleeve 28 from the clamped configuration, the user urges the handle 44B from the parallel position 44B2 into the angled position 44B1 (pushing the handle upward and to the left in the specific exemplary embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2A-3). As a result, the plunger 44A is retracted, thereby allowing the pivotable bar 42 to “fall” as a result of gravity or otherwise move away from the top rail 20. This results in the drain sleeve 28 being released such that the sleeve 28 drops toward the ground and extends back out into its deployed position as best shown in FIG. 1, thereby allowing any water within the tank 10 to flow out of the tank 10 via the sleeve 28. In certain embodiments, the weight of water inside the drain sleeve 28 will pull the sleeve 28 from its position between the pivotable bar 42 and the top rail 20 and extend the drain sleeve 28 onto the ground.

One of the advantages of the embodiments herein is that the clamping of the sleeve 28 to the frame 12 and the quick-release of the sleeve 28 can be performed by a user wearing gloves.

In addition, the use of the attachment mechanism 44 and the pivotable bar 42 to quickly and easily release the sleeve 28 from the frame 12 as described above provides a faster release than the currently known mechanisms. For example, both the known caribeaner clip and pull-through strap system as described above and the known improvised method of tying the sleeve to the top rail require additional steps and take longer to release the sleeve than the various implementations herein.

While the various systems described above are separate implementations, any of the individual components, mechanisms, or devices, and related features and functionality, within the various system embodiments described in detail above can be incorporated into any of the other system embodiments herein.

The terms “about” and “substantially,” as used herein, refers to variation that can occur (including in numerical quantity or structure), for example, through typical measuring techniques and equipment, with respect to any quantifiable variable, including, but not limited to, mass, volume, time, distance, wave length, frequency, voltage, current, and electromagnetic field. Further, there is certain inadvertent error and variation in the real world that is likely through differences in the manufacture, source, or precision of the components used to make the various components or carry out the methods and the like. The terms “about” and “substantially” also encompass these variations. The term “about” and “substantially” can include any variation of 5% or 10%, or any amount—including any integer—between 0% and 10%. Further, whether or not modified by the term “about” or “substantially,” the claims include equivalents to the quantities or amounts.

Numeric ranges recited within the specification are inclusive of the numbers defining the range and include each integer within the defined range. Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of this disclosure are presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible sub-ranges, fractions, and individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and decimals and fractions, for example, 1.2, 3.8, 1½, and 4¾ This applies regardless of the breadth of the range. Although the various embodiments have been described with reference to preferred implementations, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Although the various embodiments have been described with reference to preferred implementations, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly for a portable water tank, the assembly comprising:

(a) a pivotable bar pivotably attached to a first vertical post of a frame of the water tank, wherein the pivotable bar is movable between a clamped position adjacent to a top rail of the frame and a released position;

(b) a releasable attachment mechanism attached to a second vertical post adjacent to the first vertical post, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position in which the releasable attachment mechanism retains the pivotable bar in the clamped positioned between the releasable attachment mechanism and the top rail and a retracted position,

wherein a flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the top rail when the releaseable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.

2. The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the released position comprises a portion of the pivotable bar being disposed at some distance from the top rail of the frame such that the portion of the pivotable bar is not adjacent to the top rail.

3. The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivotable bar comprises a first end, wherein the first end is pivotably attached to the first vertical post.

4. The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of claim 3, wherein the pivotable bar comprises a second end opposite the first end, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar at a location near the second end when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

5. The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of claim 1, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism comprises a deployable plunger and a handle operably coupled thereto, wherein the deployable plunger is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

6. The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of claim 5, wherein the handle is movable into a parallel position such that the deployable plunger is urged into an extended position, whereby the pivotable bar is urged into the clamped position.

7. A portable water tank, comprising:

(a) a foldable receptacle comprising a bottom wall and vertical sidewalls;

(b) a frame configured to support the sidewalls in an upright position, the frame comprising at least three frame sides, wherein each frame side comprises: (i) a top rail; (ii) a bottom rail; and (iii) at least three vertical posts coupled to the top rail and the bottom rail;

(c) a flexible drain sleeve attached to one of the vertical sidewalls, the flexible drain sleeve comprises a lumen defined therein, wherein the lumen is in fluidic communication with an interior of the foldable receptacle, wherein the flexible drain sleeve extends from one of the at least three frame sides such that the flexible sleeve is disposed between a first vertical post of the at least three vertical posts and a second vertical post of the at least three vertical posts; and

(d) a releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly comprising: (i) a pivotable bar pivotably attached to the first vertical post, wherein the pivotable bar is movable between a clamped position adjacent to the top rail and a released position; and (ii) a releasable attachment mechanism attached to the second vertical post, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position in which the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position between the releasable attachment mechanism and the top rail and a retracted position,

wherein the flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.

8. The portable water tank of claim 7, wherein the pivotable bar comprises:

(a) a first end, wherein the first end is pivotably attached to the first vertical post; and

(b) a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is substantially adjacent to the top rail and the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position.

9. The portable water tank of claim 8, wherein the second end is not adjacent to the top rail or the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is in the released position.

10. The portable water tank of claim 8, wherein the second end is movable away from the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is urged toward the retracted position.

11. The portable water tank of claim 8, wherein the second end is moveable toward the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is urged toward the clamped position.

12. The portable water tank of claim 8, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar at a location near the second end when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

13. The portable water tank of claim 7, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism comprises a deployable plunger and a handle operably coupled thereto, wherein the deployable plunger is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position.

14. The portable water tank of claim 13, wherein the handle is movable into a parallel position such that the deployable plunger is urged into an extended position, whereby the pivotable bar is urged into the clamped position.

15. A method of using a portable water tank drain sleeve, the method comprising:

placing a flexible drain sleeve over a pivotable bar, wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached to a frame of a portable water tank;

actuating a releasable attachment mechanism to urge the pivotable bar upward toward a top rail such that the pivotable bar is adjacent to or in contact with the top rail, whereby the pivotable bar and the flexible drain sleeve are disposed in a clamped position such that the flexible drain sleeve is fixedly disposed between the pivotable bar and the top rail; and

actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail, whereby the flexible drain sleeve is released from the clamped position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached to a first vertical post of the frame, and wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is attached to a second vertical post of the frame.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached at a first end of the pivotable bar to the first vertical post of the framed, wherein the pivotable bar further comprises a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is substantially adjacent to the top rail and the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail results in the second end moving away from the top rail and the second vertical post.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to urge the pivotable bar upward further comprises actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to move into a deployed position such that the releasable attachment mechanism urges the pivotable bar upward into the clamped position.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail further comprises actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to move into a retracted position.