ODOR-PREVENTING CATCH BASIN FOR USE WITH GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS

Abstract

The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems may include a tray and a trap door. The tray may be installed in a catch basin between the top of a sump and a grate such that the tray covers the top of the sump. The tray may include a bottom aperture. The trap door may hingedly couple to the bottom of the tray. The trap door may default to a closed position such that the trap door blocks the bottom aperture and prevents odors from exiting the catch basin. The weight of runoff water collected in the bottom of the tray may pivot the trap door downward to an open position. The tray may direct the runoff water into the sump through the bottom aperture.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the fields of storm drains, catch basins, and odor control systems, more specifically, an odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems may comprise a tray and a trap door. The tray may be installed in a catch basin between the top of a sump and a grate such that the tray covers the top of the sump. The tray may comprise a bottom aperture. The trap door may hingedly couple to the bottom of the tray. The trap door may default to a closed position such that the trap door blocks the bottom aperture and prevents odors from exiting the catch basin. The weight of runoff water collected in the bottom of the tray may pivot the trap door downward to an open position. The tray may direct the runoff water into the sump through the bottom aperture.

An object of the invention is to provide a tray comprising a bottom aperture to cover the top of the sump of a catch basin such that the tray may direct runoff groundwater into the sump via the bottom aperture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trapdoor that covers the bottom aperture to prevent odors from exiting the sewer line via the catch basin.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring-loaded hinge to hold the trapdoor in a closed position in the absence of runoff water collected in the tray.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a spring-loaded hinge that permits the trapdoor to move to an open position in the presence of runoff water collected in the tray.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems in detail, it is to be understood that the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure, illustrating the trapdoor in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure, illustrating the trapdoor in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure, illustrating the trapdoor in the closed position to block odors.

FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure, illustrating the trapdoor in the open position to allow runoff water to flow into the catch basin.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure, illustrating the trapdoor in the closed position in the presence of a surcharge rising from the sewer line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the word “or” is intended to be inclusive.

Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7.

The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems 100 (hereinafter invention) comprises a tray 200 and a trap door 220. The tray 200 may be installed in a catch basin 900 between the top of a sump 904 and a grate 902 such that the tray 200 covers the top of the sump 904. The tray 200 may comprise a bottom aperture 206. The trap door 220 may hingedly couple to the bottom of the tray 200. The trap door 220 may default to a closed position 290 such that the trap door 220 blocks the bottom aperture 206 and prevents odors from exiting the catch basin 900. The weight of runoff water 920 collected in the bottom of the tray 200 may pivot the trap door 220 downward to an open position 292. The tray 200 may direct the runoff water 920 into the sump 904 through the bottom aperture 206. Note that the runoff water 920 may sometimes be referred to as groundwater.

The tray 200 may comprise a tray top rim 202, a tray bottom 204, and tray side walls 208. The tray bottom 204 may be a horizontally-oriented flat panel located at the bottom of the tray 200. The tray bottom 204 may be smaller than the inside of the sump 904 such that the tray bottom 204 may be positioned below the top of the sump 904. The tray bottom 204 may comprise the bottom aperture 206. The bottom aperture 206 may allow the runoff water 920 that enters the tray 200 to exit from the tray 200 and into the sump 904. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom aperture 206 may be 6.0 inches +/−1.0 inches by 6.0 inches +/−1.0 inches.

The bottom of the tray side walls 208 may be coupled to the edges of the tray bottom 204. The tray side walls 208 may slope up and away from the center of the catch basin 900. The tray side walls 208 may be interconnected in order to form a funnel that directs the runoff water 920 to the bottom aperture 206 via the tray bottom 204.

The tops of the tray side walls 208 may be coupled to the tray top rim 202. The tray top rim 202 may project horizontally away from the top of the tray side walls 208. The tray top rim 202 may be larger than the top of the sump 904 such that the tray top rim 202 may support the tray 200 above the sump 904. In some embodiments, the tray top rim 202 may comprise corrugations in order to strengthen the tray top rim 202

The trap door 220 may hingedly couple to the tray bottom 204. The trap door 220 may pivot between the closed position 290 and the open position 292. In the closed position 290, the trap door 220 may cover the bottom aperture 206 to seal the tray bottom 204. In the closed position 290, the trap door 220 may prevent the odors from exiting the catch basin 900. The trap door 220 may pivot to the open position 292 due to the weight of the runoff water 920 collected in the tray 200. In the open position 292, the trap door 220 may pivot downwards such that the bottom aperture 206 is open. In the open position 292, the trap door 220 may allow the runoff water 920 to flow from the tray 200 into the sump 904.

The trap door 220 may be coupled to the tray bottom 204 via a hinge 222. The hinge 222 may be spring-loaded such that the hinge 222 may apply a force to the trap door 220 that pivots the trap door 220 from the open position 292 to the closed position 290. The hinge 222 may apply a force to the trap door 220 to move the trap door 220 to the closed position 290 however the weight of the trap door 220 plus the runoff water 920 collected on top of the trap door 220 may overcome the force applied by the hinge 222 and may move the trap door 220 to the open position 292.

In some embodiments, the trap door 220 may comprise a float 224 such that a surcharge 914 rising from a sewer line 910 may push the trap door 220 to the closed position 290 in order to prevent wastewater 912 from overflowing the catch basin 900. As a non-limiting example, the float 224 may take the form of a hollow bottom on the trap door 220.

In some embodiments, the tray 200 may comprise a hinge guard 230. The hinge guard 230 may be a shield coupled to the tray 200 above the hinge 222. The hinge guard 230 may be operable to deter debris from becoming caught between the trap door 220 and the tray bottom 204 on the side of the trap door 220 that is adjacent the hinge 222.

The invention 100 may prevent the odors from exiting from the catch basin 900 by virtue of the tray 200 covering the top of the sump 904 and by virtue of the trap door 220 pressing up against the bottom of the tray bottom 204 to plug the bottom aperture 206.

The invention 100 may allow the runoff water 920 and the debris that enters the tray 200 to pass into the catch basin 900 and into the sewer line 910 by virtue of the weight of the runoff water 920 and the debris pushing down on the trap door 220 and overcoming the force of the hinge 222.

The invention 100 may restrict the flow of the runoff water 920 into the sewer line 910 by virtue of the reduced size of the top of the catch basin 900. Restricting the flow of the runoff water 920 may permit the sewer line 910 to keep up with the runoff water 920 and may prevent the surcharge 914.

The invention 100 may prevent the catch basin 900 from overflowing during the surcharge 914 by virtue of the float 224 in the trap door 220 lifting the trap door 220 to the closed position 290 in the event of the wastewater 912 from the sewer line 910 rising within the sump 904.

The invention 100 may deny breeding water to mosquitos by virtue of the trap door 220 blocking the bottom aperture 206 in the absence of the runoff water 920 such that the mosquitos are preventing from reaching standing water within the catch basin 900.

In use, a user may remove the grate 902 from a catch basin 900 and may position the tray 200 on top of the sump 904. The grate 902 may then be returned to the top of the catch basin 900. The trap door 220 may be held in the closed position 290 by the hinge 222 and may prevent odors that originate at the sewer line 910 from escaping at the catch basin 900.

Runoff water 920 may flow into the tray 200. The weight of the runoff water 920 collected within the tray 200 may pivot the trap door 220 from the closed position 290 to the open position 292 such that the runoff water 920 and debris that collected in the tray 200 may flow into the sump 904. The runoff water 920 and the debris may flow from the sump 904 through an outflow pipe 906 to the sewer line 910.

During a rain storm, the flow of the runoff water 920 into the sewer line 910 may exceed the capacity of the sewer line 910 and the sewer line 910 may therefore overflow into the sump 904. To prevent wastewater 912 from the sewer line 910 from overflowing out of the top of the catch basin 900, the float 224 within the trap door 220 may lift the trap door 220 from the open position 292 to the closed position 290 in the presence of the surcharge 914.

DEFINITIONS

Unless otherwise stated, the words “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, and “lower” should be interpreted within a gravitational framework. “Down” is the direction that gravity would pull an object. “Up” is the opposite of “down”. “Bottom” is the part of an object that is down farther than any other part of the object. “Top” is the part of an object that is up farther than any other part of the object. “Upper” may refer to top and “lower” may refer to the bottom. As a non-limiting example, the upper end of a vertical shaft is the top end of the vertical shaft.

As used in this disclosure, an “aperture” may be an opening in a surface or object. Aperture may be synonymous with hole, slit, crack, gap, slot, or opening.

As used herein, the words “couple”, “couples”, “coupled” or “coupling”, may refer to connecting, either directly or indirectly, and does not necessarily imply a mechanical connection.

As used in this disclosure, a “grate” may be a plurality of parallel metal bars or a metal structure comprising a mesh structure formed from metal bars.

As used in this disclosure, a “hinge” may be a device that permits the turning, rotating, or pivoting of a first object relative to a second object.

As used in this disclosure, “horizontal” may be a directional term that refers to a direction that is perpendicular to the local force of gravity. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the horizontal direction is always perpendicular to the vertical direction.

As used herein, the word “pivot” may include any mechanical arrangement that allows for rotational motion. Non-limiting examples of pivots may include hinges, holes, posts, dowels, pins, points, rods, rivets, shafts, balls, and sockets, either individually or in combination.

As used in this disclosure, a “rim” may be an outer edge or border that follows along the perimeter of an object.

As used in this disclosure, a “spring” may be a device that is used to store mechanical energy. This mechanical energy will often be stored by deforming an elastomeric material that is used to make the device, by the application of a torque to a rigid structure, or by a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the rigid structure to which torque is applied may be composed of metal or plastic.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in FIGS. 1 through 7, include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention.

It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems comprising:

a tray and a trap door;

wherein the tray is installed in a catch basin between the top of a sump and a grate such that the tray covers the top of the sump;

wherein the tray comprises a bottom aperture;

wherein the trap door hingedly couples to the bottom of the tray;

wherein the tray directs runoff water into the sump through the bottom aperture.

2. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 1

wherein the trap door defaults to a closed position such that the trap door blocks the bottom aperture and prevents odors from exiting the catch basin;

wherein the weight of the runoff water collected in the bottom of the tray pivots the trap door downward to an open position;

wherein the tray comprises a tray top rim, a tray bottom, and tray side walls;

wherein the tray bottom is a horizontally-oriented flat panel located at the bottom of the tray;

wherein the tray bottom is smaller than the inside of the sump such that the tray bottom is positioned below the top of the sump.

3. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 2

wherein the tray bottom comprises the bottom aperture;

wherein the bottom aperture allows the runoff water that enters the tray to exit from the tray and into the sump.

4. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 3

wherein the bottom aperture is 6.0 inches +/−1.0 inch by 6.0 inches +/−1.0 inch.

5. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 3

wherein the bottom of the tray side walls is coupled to the edges of the tray bottom;

wherein the tray side walls slopes up and away from the center of the catch basin;

wherein the tray side walls are interconnected in order to form a funnel that directs the runoff water to the bottom aperture via the tray bottom.

6. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 5

wherein the tops of the tray side walls are coupled to the tray top rim;

wherein the tray top rim projects horizontally away from the top of the tray side walls;

wherein the tray top rim is larger than the top of the sump such that the tray top rim supports the tray above the sump.

7. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 6

wherein the tray top rim comprises corrugations in order to strengthen the tray top rim.

8. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 6

wherein the trap door hingedly couples to the tray bottom;

wherein the trap door pivots between the closed position and the open position.

9. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 8

wherein in the closed position, the trap door covers the bottom aperture to seal the tray bottom;

wherein in the closed position, the trap door prevents the odors from exiting the catch basin.

10. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 9

wherein the trap door pivots to the open position due to the weight of the runoff water collected in the tray;

wherein in the open position, the trap door pivots downwards such that the bottom aperture is open;

wherein in the open position, the trap door allows the runoff water to flow from the tray into the sump.

11. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 10

wherein the trap door is coupled to the tray bottom via a hinge;

wherein the hinge is spring-loaded such that the hinge applies a force to the trap door that pivots the trap door from the open position to the closed position.

12. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 11

wherein the hinge applies a force to the trap door to move the trap door to the closed position however the weight of the trap door plus the runoff water collected on top of the trap door overcomes the force applied by the hinge and moves the trap door to the open position.

13. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 12

wherein the trap door comprises a float such that a surcharge rising from a sewer line pushes the trap door to the closed position in order to prevent wastewater from overflowing the catch basin.

14. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 13

wherein the float takes the form of a hollow bottom on the trap door.

15. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 13

wherein the tray comprises a hinge guard;

wherein the hinge guard is a shield coupled to the tray above the hinge;

wherein the hinge guard is operable to deter debris from becoming caught between the trap door and the tray bottom on the side of the trap door that is adjacent the hinge.

16. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 15

wherein the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems prevents the odors from exiting from the catch basin by virtue of the tray covering the top of the sump and by virtue of the trap door pressing up against the bottom of the tray bottom to plug the bottom aperture.

17. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 16

wherein the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems allows the runoff water and the debris that enters the tray to pass into the catch basin and into the sewer line by virtue of the weight of the runoff water and the debris pushing down on the trap door and overcoming the force of the hinge.

18. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 17

wherein the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems restricts the flow of the runoff water into the sewer line by virtue of the reduced size of the top of the catch basin;

wherein restricting the flow of the runoff water permits the sewer line to keep up with the runoff water and prevents the surcharge.

19. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 18

wherein the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems prevents the catch basin from overflowing during the surcharge by virtue of the float in the trap door lifting the trap door to the closed position in the event of the wastewater from the sewer line rising within the sump.

20. The odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems according to claim 19

wherein the odor-preventing catch basin for use with groundwater systems denies breeding water to mosquitos by virtue of the trap door blocking the bottom aperture in the absence of the runoff water such that the mosquitos are preventing from reaching standing water within the catch basin.