Patent Application
20180363285
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For as long as there have been drains and sewage systems there has been a problem of how to allow water and debris to exit the drain pipes while preventing animals from entering the pipes. To this day, blockage due to animals, animal debris, and other debris is a problem in residential housing drainage and gutter systems, farm field drainage systems, golf course drainage systems, and any place where polymer drainage and sewage pipes are used as part of the drainage system.
Drain pipe end caps with gates to allow water and debris flow while preventing animals from entering the drain have been implemented in various forms over the years. Drain cap solutions usually include a significant number of moving parts. Most, if not all, require tools to install and employ, increasing the cost. Many of these systems may be effective for larger animals but many appear less effective at keeping out mice, rats and other small rodents or vermin. There are many products that allow fluid weeping, while preventing animal incursions but many of these solutions do not allow debris to leave the pipe, resulting in the pipe getting plugged with debris.
Existing options are installed within a pipe, usually bolted to the top of the pipe or hinged between points at the pipe's inner surface perimeter. Other solutions require end fittings that also need to be bolted or affixed to pipes with fasteners. These solutions are intended to allow water and debris to flow out past the internal gate, while closing to prevent animals from venturing into the pipe. The majority of modern drain pipes are single-walled or double-walled corrugated polyethylene pipes or smooth-walled polyvinylchloride pipes. It becomes difficult to replace most systems if the mechanism breaks. Existing solutions need to be affixed to the pipe, requiring tools, and these solutions collectively put strain on the pipe walls, over time ensuring that the pipe will break at or near the attachment point. These last two points are particularly significant as drainage pipes are costly and cumbersome to replace, potentially requiring digging and replacing large sections of pipe.
The current invention provides a drain pipe end cap that is suited for use with every diameter of single or more walled smooth or corrugated polymer drain piping most commonly used today and in the foreseeable future. The invention allows for full flow drainage of fluid and debris, while blocking against animal incursions.
Disclosed herein is a drain pipe end cap for allowing water and debris flow but preventing animal access, comprising a fitting and a gate.
Further disclosed in certain preferred embodiments is a drain pipe end cap comprising a fitting, for connection to the end of a drain pipe, and at least one gate. The fitting promotes effluent flow from the end of the drainpipe. The fitting comprises a tubular structure, an aperture, a leading end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface, a flange, at least one connector, at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole. The at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end, at the distal end, at a position in between at the leading end and at the distal end, and combinations thereof. The at least one connector is at least one internal connector, and/or at least one external connector, and/or a slide-on connector. The flange is an external stop flange and/or an internal stop flange. The at least one gate comprises a front face, a rear face, a first protruding gate pivot tab, and a second protruding gate pivot tab, the first protruding gate pivot tab and the second protruding gate pivot tab located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line; wherein the first protruding gate pivot tab is in the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second protruding gate pivot tab is in the second gate pivot tab bearing hole. The gate pivots in a single rotational direction about a gate pivot tab line, having a range of open positions, and having a closed position that substantially occludes the aperture; wherein the gate makes functional contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the fitting in the closed position; and wherein the gate promotes towards the closed position due to gravity.
Further disclosed in certain preferred embodiments is a drain pipe end cap comprising a fitting for connection to the end of a drain pipe and at least one gate. The fitting promotes effluent flow from the end of the drainpipe. The fitting comprises a tubular structure, an aperture, a leading end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface, a flange, at least one connector, at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole. The at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end, at the distal end, at a position in between at the leading end and at the distal end, and combinations thereof. The at least one connector is at least one internal connector, and/or at least one external connector, and/or a slide-on connector. The flange is an external stop flange and/or an internal stop flange. The at least one gate comprises a front face, a rear face, a first protruding gate pivot tab, and a second protruding gate pivot tab, the first protruding gate pivot tab and the second protruding gate pivot tab located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line. The at least one gate is inserted into the fitting using the application of opposing forces to the outer surface of the fitting, thereby distorting the tubular structure, the first protruding gate pivot tab is inserted into the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second protruding gate pivot tab is aligned with the second gate pivot tab bearing hole, removing the opposing forces thereby capturing the second protruding gate pivot tab in the second gate pivot tab bearing hole and returning the fitting to substantially its original shape; wherein connection to the drain pipe constrains fitting distortion. The gate pivots in a single rotational direction about a gate pivot tab line, having a range of open positions, and having a closed position that substantially occludes the aperture; wherein the gate makes functional contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the fitting in the closed position; and wherein the gate promotes towards the closed position due to gravity.
Further disclosed in certain preferred embodiments is a method for assembling a drain pipe end cap, comprising a fitting, for connection to the end of a drain pipe, and at least one gate; wherein the fitting comprises a tubular structure, an aperture, a leading end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface, at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole; wherein the at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end, at the distal end, at a position in between at the leading end and at the distal end, and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one gate comprises a front face, a rear face, a first protruding gate pivot tab, and a second protruding gate pivot tab, the first protruding gate pivot tab and the second protruding gate pivot tab located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line; wherein the at least one gate is inserted into the tubular structure using the application of opposing forces to the outer surface of the fitting, thereby distorting the tubular structure, the first protruding gate pivot tab is inserted into the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second protruding gate pivot tab is aligned with the second gate pivot tab bearing hole, removing the distortion causing opposing forces thereby allowing the capture of the second protruding gate pivot tab into the at least one second gate pivot tab bearing hole and allowing the fitting to substantially return to its original shape; and connecting the fitting to the drain pipe wherein the drain pipe constrains further fitting distortion.
Before explaining certain embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of any particular embodiment shown or discussed herein since the invention comprises still further embodiments, as described by the claims.
Unless otherwise clearly specified the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Further, although certain methods are described with reference to certain steps that are presented herein in a certain order, in many instances, these steps may be performed in any order as may be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art, and the methods are not limited to the particular arrangement of steps disclosed herein.
As utilized herein, the following terms and expressions will be understood as follows:
The term “about” as utilized herein refers to the statistically average variability as is typically found in the art of the invention herein.
The expression “end of a drain pipe” refers to an exit aperture for a drain pipe where water, debris, and other effluent leave the piping system to the outside environment.
The expression “functional contact” refers to the contact between an object and a plane but for unexpected wear or variances or other irregularities which are due to machining or tool tolerance limits in the invention manufacturing process.
The expression “substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line” refers to the relationship of an object to a gate horizontal center line, where substantially at the gate horizontal center line means at the gate horizontal center line but for variances or other irregularities which are due to machining or tool tolerance limits in the invention manufacturing process.
The expression “substantially at or above a horizontal meridian” refers to the relationship of an object to a horizontal meridian, where substantially at the horizontal meridian means at the horizontal meridian but for variances or other irregularities which are due to machining or tool tolerance limits in the invention manufacturing process.
The expression “substantially coplanar” refers to the placement of the edges of two or more objects such that the objects are in the same plane or in the same plane but for variances or other irregularities which are due to machining or tool tolerance limits in the invention manufacturing process.
The expression “tubular structure” refers the form or shape of a tube but may have variances, rounded edges, flared edges, or other irregularities which are intended or unintended due to machining or tool tolerance limits in the invention manufacturing process; the shape of a tube may include but not be limited to cylindrical structures, square structures, prism structures, and tubing where the outer and inner shapes include but are not limited to circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, ovals, ellipses, similar geometries, and combinations thereof.
The invention herein will be better understood by reference to the figures wherein like reference numbers refer to like components.
The fitting (101) comprises a material so that when opposing forces are applied to the outer surface of the fitting (101), it distorts in shape but will have sufficient material memory to return to essentially its original shape once the opposing forces are removed. The expression opposing forces are understood to include substantially opposing forces. Polyethylene is a suitable material for the fitting (101). Polyethylene comes in a number of variants, with the most common being low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (PE), or linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Other variants may include but are not limited to ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene or metallocene polyethylene. The preferred embodiment of this invention is to be made from LLDPE. However, any other polymer or material that can be distorted but having sufficient material memory to return to its original shape may be used.
The fitting (101) comprises a tubular structure, however the shape of the tube may be any suitable shape on the market or which may in the future enter the market. It is expected that the most common tube shapes will be substantially circular, elliptical, or ovular. Other shapes may include but are not be limited to squares, rectangles, triangles, hexagons, octagons, similar geometric shapes, or any other suitable shape for connection to a drainage pipe. The fitting (101) may also taper or flare from the leading end to the distal end.
Commonly used drain pipes (130) may be single-walled, double-walled, or multi-walled. Drain pipes are generally polyethylene or polyvinylchloride (PVC). However, drain pipes (130) made from other materials exist and may be suitable for use with the current invention. Drain pipes (130) may have a corrugated construction or a generally smooth construction, depending on the application.
The fitting (101) has at least one connector for attaching the fitting (101) to a drain pipe (130) so that the fitting (101) may be placed onto or into a drain pipe (130) but will be prevented from being easily removed. The at least one connector (111, 112, 113) comprises at least one internal connector (111), and/or at least one external connector (112), and/or a slide-on connector (113), and/or combinations thereof. The at least one internal connector (111) or at least one external connector (112) most commonly comprises latches, catches, locks, ridges, spikes, barbs, combinations thereof, and the like. However, any similar attachment device capable of attaching to the grooved portion of a corrugated pipe or smooth surface pipe and preventing outward motion of the fitting may be used.
The slide-on connector (113) may be on the inner surface of the fitting (106) or on the outer surface of the fitting (107). The slide-on connector (113) is intended to slide into or onto the drain pipe (130). The slide-on connector (113) may have no protruding connector or it may have internal and/or external latches, catches, locks, ridges, spikes, barbs, compression connectors, interference connectors, and combinations thereof. The slide-on connector (113) may also be suited for a fitting (101) that flares or tapers from the leading end to the distal end, with the flared fitting being suitable for being placed onto the drain pipe and the tapered end being suitable for being placed into the drain pipe (130). A slide-on connector (113) with a flared or tapered may be wedged into a drain pipe (130). Other embodiment includes compression-fit or interference-fit, wherein the slide-on connector (113) is a compression connector or interference connector for connection to the interior or exterior to smooth-walled and/or corrugated drain pipes.
The fitting (101) may also have a flange which may be an external stop flange (115), and/or an internal stop flange (116). The external stop flange (115) is intended to prevent the fitting (101) from being inserted further into a drain pipe (130).
Once the gate (102) is inserted into the fitting (101), the fitting is intended for connection to a drain pipe (130). Once the fitting (101) is placed into or onto a drain pipe (130), the structural qualities of the drain pipe (130) serve to constrain the fitting from being distorted due to any further application of outside forces. The gate (102) should remain secured between the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109) while being able to pivot about the gate pivot tab line (131).
The gate should be constructed from a material which can withstand bending or flexing forces due to attempts by animals to enter the drain pipe. Such material should also be light enough so that effluent flow can cause the gate to pivot about the gate pivot tab line (131) but heavy enough such that the gate will tend towards a closed position due to gravity. For small diameter drain pipes up to approximately 10 inches, a solid bottom gate (144) may be more suitable. For larger diameter drain pipes (10 inches or greater) a stamped grate configuration gate (145) or a weldment grate configuration gate (146) may be more suitable. Stainless steel is likely to be the most commonly used gate material. However, other materials such as but not limited to corrosion resistant metals, coated metals, ceramics, or polymers may be used. Use of weighted ends may also be used to assist the gate (102) in tending towards a closed position. An alternative gate construction (not shown) may be a mesh cover wherein the mesh covers the grate configuration or the mesh is affixed within a frame, wherein the frame spans the circumference of the gate. Another alternative gate construction (not shown) may be one where the entire gate is a solid plate.
The height of a gate (102) in any drain pipe shape or configuration should be such that the gate is at an angle to a drain pipe's vertical cross section when the gate (102) is in a closed position and that the bottom or top of the gate makes functional contact with the inner surface of the fitting.
Circular drain pipes (130) are most commonly used. For a circular drain pipe (130), the most common gate (102) should be oval or elliptical in shape, with gate height along the major axis (171) being longer than the drain pipe diameter, and the gate width along the gate horizontal center line (121) being less than the drain pipe diameter. In its closed position, the gate may be at an angle to the drain pipe's vertical cross-sectional plane.
The distance between the ends of the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) of a contiguous construction with the gate (102), along the gate pivot tab line (131) should be wider than the diameter of the drain pipe (130) so that the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) remain in the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109), respectively.
In its closed position, the gate (102) preferably substantially occludes the fitting aperture (103). The gate (102) is intended to obstruct the fitting aperture (103) and to block animals and pests from easily entering the drain pipe (130), while allowing effluent to move the gate into an open position, and exiting the drainpipe through the leading end (104) of the fitting (101). Effluent is understood to cover fluid flow and/or debris which may be in the fluid.
The gate (102) preferably opens in one rotational direction, pivoting about the gate pivot tab line (131), with gravity tending the gate (102) towards a closed position in the opposite rotational direction. The gate (102) is prevented from moving in a rotational direction beyond the closed position, as the gate (102) makes functional contact with the inner surface of the fitting (101).
Embodiment 1 is a drain pipe end cap comprising a fitting (101) for connection to the end of a drain pipe (130) and at least one gate (102). The fitting (101) promotes effluent flow from the end of the drainpipe. The fitting (101) comprises a tubular structure, an aperture (103), a leading end (104), a distal end (105), an inner surface (106), an outer surface (107), a flange (115,116), at least one connector (111, 112, 113), at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109). The at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109) are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian (110) of the fitting located at a position selected from at the leading end (104), at the distal end (105), at a position in between at the leading end (104) and at the distal end (105), and combinations thereof. The at least one connector (111, 112, 113) is at least one internal connector (111), and/or at least one external connector (112), and/or a slide-on connector (113). The flange is selected from the group consisting of an external stop flange (115) and/or an internal stop flange (116). The at least one gate (102) comprises a front face (117), a rear face (118), a first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and a second protruding gate pivot tab (120) in a contiguous construction with the gate (102), the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line (121); wherein the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) is in the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) is in the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109). The gate pivots in a single rotational direction about a gate pivot tab line (131), having a range of open positions, and having a closed position that substantially occludes the aperture (103); wherein the gate makes functional contact with at least a portion of the inner surface (106) of the fitting (101) in the closed position; and wherein the gate promotes towards the closed position due to gravity.
Embodiment 2 is the drain pipe end cap of embodiment 1 wherein the leading end (104) has a slanted configuration (122).
Embodiment 3 is a drain pipe end cap comprising a fitting (101), for connection to the end of a drain pipe (130), and at least one gate (102). The fitting (101) promotes effluent flow from the end of the drain pipe (130). The fitting (101) comprises a tubular structure, an aperture (103), a leading end (104), a distal end (105), an inner surface (106), an outer surface (107), a flange (115,116), at least one connector (111, 112, 113), at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109). The at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109) are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian (110) of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end (104), at the distal end (105), at a position in between at the leading end (104) and at the distal end (105), and combinations thereof. The at least one connector is at least one internal connector (111), and/or at least one external connector (112), and/or a slide-on connector (113). The flange is an external stop flange (115) and/or an internal stop flange (116). The at least one gate (102) comprises a front face (117), a rear face (118), a first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and a second protruding gate pivot tab (120) in a contiguous construction with the gate (102), the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line (121). The at least one gate (102) is inserted into the fitting (101) using the application of opposing forces (150) to the outer surface (107) of the fitting (101), thereby distorting the tubular structure, the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) is inserted into the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) is aligned with the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109), removing the opposing forces (150) thereby capturing the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) in the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109) and returning the fitting (101) to substantially its original shape; wherein connection to the drain pipe (130) constrains fitting (101) distortion. The gate pivots in a single rotational direction about a gate pivot tab line (131), having a range of open positions, and having a closed position that substantially occludes the aperture (103); wherein the gate (102) makes functional contact with at least a portion of the inner surface (106) of the fitting (101) in the closed position; and wherein the gate promotes towards the closed position due to gravity.
Embodiment 4 is the drain pipe end cap of embodiment 3, wherein the leading end (104) has a slanted configuration (122).
Embodiment 5 is a method for assembling a drain pipe end cap, comprising: a fitting (101), for connection to the end of a drain pipe (130), and at least one gate (102); wherein the fitting (101) comprises a tubular structure, an aperture (103), a leading end (104), a distal end (105), an inner surface (106), an outer surface (107), at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109); wherein the at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109) are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian (110) of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end (104), at the distal end (105), at a position in between at the leading end (104) and at the distal end (105), and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one gate (102) comprises a front face (117), a rear face (118), a first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and a second protruding gate pivot tab (120) in a contiguous construction with the gate (102), the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line (121); wherein the at least one gate (102) is inserted into the tubular structure using the application of opposing forces (150) to the outer surface (107) of the fitting (101), thereby distorting the tubular structure, the first protruding gate pivot tab (119) is inserted into the first gate pivot tab bearing hole (108) and the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) is aligned with the second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109), removing the opposing forces (150) thereby capturing the second protruding gate pivot tab (120) in the at least one second gate pivot tab bearing hole (109) and returning the fitting (101) to substantially its original shape; and connecting the fitting (101) to the drain pipe (130) wherein the drain pipe constrains fitting (101) distortion.
