Patent Application
20240191490
The present invention relates generally to sump pumps and sump basins, and, more particularly, to installation of sump basins in pre-existing structures, such as residential housing.
In order to ensure better water drainage in homes, for example, sump basins have been used to gather water which would otherwise intrude upon the home interior. Pumps are typically placed in those basins to remove the water which gathers in the sump basins. However, sump basins are typically installed to extend three or more feet below the ground level of the home. Accordingly, when installing sump basins into pre-existing homes, there are often difficulties in negotiating the low crawl spaces under the homes, typically having only 15 inches of clearance, for example. A conventional one piece basin simply cannot fit into such crawl spaces, much less be easily placed into a three or more foot deep hole dug within the crawl space.
It has been suggested to use multi-segment sump basins in those circumstances, which can be threaded together once the sump hole has been dug. However, threading those sections together can be tedious and complicated due to the debris and dirt adjacent the segment threading and the logistics of maneuvering the segments within a crawl space. Similarly, other means of joining the segments together have not been satisfactory as well, given the close confines of the crawl space and the depth of the hold needed for the basin to fit into.
Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide improved sump basin for use in confined spaces. These improvements include providing sump basins which:
These and other objectives of the present invention are achieved by the provision of a sump basin formed from telescopically interfit portions which can be snap-fit into an expanded position of increased vertical height by use of one or more ledges formed on circumferential ribs, merely by pulling up on the top segment once the collapsed basin is in place and a sump pump is mounted therein.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following drawings and detailed description of certain preferred and alternative embodiments.
The figures show schematically, and in best mode versions, embodiments of the present invention, both generically and specifically. The drawings are not precisely to scale from one to the next.
The following numbered features are illustrated in the drawings:
Sump basin 10, having:
To create the present invention, preferred embodiments have cut a conventional sump basin along line 16 to form upper portion 20 and lower portion 30. That cut creates a bottom edge in upper portion 20 along line 16, and creates a top edge in lower portion 30 along line 16. Further the portion of rib 14 on lower portion 30 which is adjacent to the top edge of lower portion 20 is removed, such as by grinding or a lathe, to create a flat portion 40 having a projecting ledge 42.
Briefly, these elements interact as follows:
Lower portion 30 is placed within upper portion 20, as shown in
Although the present invention has been shown and described herein with respect to certain preferred embodiments and alternative configurations, those were by way of illustration and example only. For example, in especially preferred embodiments, the weight and location of the sump pump will facilitate locking of upper portion 20 into place as it is raised. Also, in other embodiments, upper portion 20 can be twisted onto flat portion 40 without need for use of flexible material in upper portion 20. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
