Patent Application
20140034152
Various types of water storage fence apparatuses are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a water storage fence apparatus for collecting, storing, and apportioning use of rainwater diverted therein, said water storage fence apparatus including a plurality of interconnectable fencing sections, each of said fencing sections having a first storage tank and a second storage tank disposed within, wherein a plurality of joining pipes and a plurality of T junction pipes interconnect each of the plurality of fencing sections, whereby rainwater is storable within the first and second storage tank of each of the plurality of fencing sections, said rainwater is drainable therefrom, as desired.
The present invention relates to a water storage fence apparatus, and more particularly, to a water storage fence apparatus useable for collecting, storing, and apportioning use of rainwater diverted therein, said water storage fence apparatus including a plurality of interconnectable fencing sections, each of said fencing sections having a first storage tank and a second storage tank disposed within, wherein a plurality of joining pipes and a plurality of T junction pipes interconnect each of the plurality of fencing sections, whereby rainwater is storable within the first and second storage tank of each of the plurality of fencing sections, and said rainwater is drainable therefrom, as desired.
The general purpose of the water storage fence apparatus, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a water storage fence apparatus which has many novel features that result in a water storage fence apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.
Particularly in arid climates, storage of rainwater is a concern. Many water storage devices are seen in the prior art, useable to collect and house rainwater. However, a homeowner must often relinquish significant space for such storage devices, space which, more often than not, is highly desirable—especially in urban and suburban areas. The present water storage fence apparatus has been devised to enable a homeowner to divert, collect, store, and apportion rainwater for reuse within a structure that also acts to enclose a boundary surrounding a given area. Since a fence generally surrounds a property, the instant water storage fence apparatus enables a homeowner to apportion water stored therein anywhere within the enclosed space around which the present water storage fence apparatus is erected.
The water storage fence apparatus, therefore, includes a plurality of interconnectable fencing sections. Each fencing section is configured to interconnect and be erectable around the perimeter of a particular parcel of land, as desired, to securely enclose said parcel of land. Each of the plurality of fencing sections includes a base, a first end wall, a second end wall, and a top side. At least one of the plurality of fencing sections includes a rainwater collection aperture disposed upon the top side, into which aperture rainwater, diverted by means of an extant gutter for example, is collectable.
Each of the plurality of fencing sections includes storage means within, said storage means comprising a first storage tank and a second storage tank. The first storage tank is disposed overlying the second storage tank, the second storage tank disposed between the first storage tank and the base. In the preferred embodiment herein disclosed, each of the first storage tank and the second storage tank have equivalent volumes.
Adjacent fencing sections are interconnected by means of a plurality of joining pipes and a plurality of T junction pipes. The plurality of joining pipes are configured to route water between the relevant storage tanks of relevant fencing sections when rainwater is diverted therein. The plurality of T junction pipes are configured to enable drainage of said storage tanks, as desired. Each of the plurality of T junction pipes thusly has a release valve disposed thereupon, said release valve openable to drain rainwater therethrough, when desired.
The plurality of joining pipes includes an upper joining pipe, disposed on the first end wall of each of the fencing sections proximal to the top side, and a lower joining pipe, disposed on the first end wall proximal to the top of the second storage tank. The upper joining pipe is in open communication with the first storage tank and the lower joining pipe is in open communication with the second storage tank.
The plurality of joining pipes further includes an upper connection pipe socket and a lower connection pipe socket, said pipe sockets disposed on the second end wall of a particular fencing section, whereby each of the upper and lower connection pipe sockets interconnect with each of the respective upper and lower joining pipes when a second of the plurality of fencing sections is positioned adjacent to a first of the plurality of fencing sections. Each of the upper and lower connection pipe sockets is configured to sealingly engage with each respective upper and lower joining pipe of an adjacent fencing section, and water-flow is enabled between said fencing sections when a water level in each of the first and second storage tanks reaches a height equivalent to overflow through the respective upper and lower joining pipe.
The plurality of T junction pipes further includes an upper T junction pipe disposed on the first end wall proximal to the lower joining pipe, the upper T junction pipe in open communication with the first storage tank. A lower T junction pipe is likewise disposed on the first end wall proximal the base, the lower T junction pipe in open communication with the second storage tank. An upper T pipe socket is disposed on the second end wall proximal to the lower connection pipe socket, the upper T pipe socket in open communication with the first storage tank and a lower T pipe socket is disposed on the second end wall proximal the base, the lower T pipe socket in open communication with the second storage tank. The upper and lower T pipes releasably insert into the respective upper and lower T pipe sockets of an adjacently positioned fencing section, and water is drainable from within each of the first and second storage tanks when the release valve is opened on each of the plurality of T junction pipes.
To secure each of the plurality of fencing sections in a desired position bordering a particular parcel of land where the instant water storage fence apparatus is used, a plurality of Y-shaped posts are included. Each Y-shaped post is configured to be securably inserted into the ground. Each of the plurality of Y-shaped posts includes a pair of upward forks. Each of the pair of upward forks is configured to releasably engage with an open-ended first cavity, disposed on the first end wall, and an open-ended second cavity disposed on the second end wall of any fencing section. Thusly, a first fencing section is secured to one of the pair of upward forks of a particular Y-shaped post by means of the first cavity, and a second fencing section, positioned interconnected and adjacent to the first fencing section, is secured thereto by means of the second cavity disposed on the second end wall engaging with the other of the pair of upward forks. Said first and second fencing section are now secured adjacent one another.
A plurality of cover members is included with the instant water storage fence apparatus. Each of the plurality of cover members is configured to interconnect between adjacently disposed fencing sections to cover the plurality of joining pipes and T junction pipes and create a continuous barrier between fencing sections. Each cover member enables access to each respective release valve disposed on the plurality of T junction pipes disposed therein, in order that water stored by the relevant fencing section is drainable therefrom when said release valve is opened.
A cap member is also included. The cap member is an elongate body connectable to the top side of a fencing section. The cap member is configured to extend over the first end wall of a particular fencing section whereby the cover member, once fitted between adjacently disposed fencing sections, is covered by the cap member. The cap member increases the integration of interconnected fencing sections and decreases stresses exerted upon the plurality of joining pipes and T junction pipes should one particular fencing section be forced transversely relative a second particular, adjacently disposed fencing section.
It is intended that each of the plurality of fencing sections be available in various designs, including, but not limited to, a design resembling a picket fence, a brick wall, a stone wall, and other such designs agreeable to a particular person using the instant water storage fence apparatus. The plurality of cap members are provided with similar design concerns, a particular cap member of a certain design configured to conform with the specific design of a relevant fencing section. A plurality of planter boxes may be included, each of the plurality of planter boxes comprising a plant draw releasably attachable to a fencing section and a capping member. The plant draw is configured to hold desired flora therein and the capping member is attachable to the plant draw whereby the design of the planter boxes accords with the particular design of the fencing section, as desired.
The present water storage fence apparatus is considered to be useable by neighbors, as desired, said water storage fence disposed between neighboring properties. In such an arrangement, one neighbor, on one side of the apparatus, may access water stored in the first storage tank, say, and the other neighbor, on the other side of the apparatus, may access water stored in the second storage tank, say. In this wise, the release valve of the corresponding upper and lower T junction pipe is disposed to be accessible from a particular side of the cover member. The instant water storage fence apparatus can thereby be used to collect diverted rainwater from neighboring rooftops and said rainwater thereafter shared by neighbors using the present water storage fence apparatus as a boundary between their properties.
Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present water storage fence apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
Objects of the present water storage fence apparatus, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the water storage fence apparatus, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description.
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular
Referring to
The present water storage fence apparatus includes an interconnectable plurality of fencing sections 20. At least one of said plurality of fencing sections 20 has a rainwater collection aperture 22 disposed thereupon into which collection aperture 22 an extant gutter 78 is configured to drain. Each of the plurality of fencing sections 20 includes a top side 24, a base 26, a first end wall 28, and a second end wall 30.
To house rainwater collected through the collection aperture 22, a first storage tank 32 is disposed within each of the plurality of fencing sections 20 and a second storage tank 34 is disposed underlying the first storage tank 32. A mesh screen 36 is disposed over the rainwater collection aperture 22 in the at least one fencing section 20 to inhibit entry of coarse material (such as leaves) into the water storage fence apparatus 10.
Each of the plurality of fencing sections 20 is interconnectable by means of a plurality of joining pipes 38 and a plurality of T junction pipes 40. The plurality of joining pipes 38 includes an upper joining pipe 42 disposed upon the first end wall 28 of each of the plurality of fencing sections 20, said upper joining pipe 42 in open communication with the first storage tank 32. The upper joining pipe 42 is disposed proximal the top side 24 of each fencing section 20. An upper connection pipe socket 44 is disposed in the second end wall 30 proximal to the top side 24, the upper connection pipe socket 44 in open communication with the first storage tank 32. The upper connection socket 44 releasably receives the upper joining pipe 42 of an adjacently positioned fencing section 20 whereby the first storage tank 32 of each fencing section 20 is interconnectable. As the upper joining pipe 42 is disposed proximal to the top side 24 of each fencing section 20, water will flow into an adjoining fencing section 20b only when the first storage tank 20a is full and a water level therein reaches the level of the position of the upper joining pipe 42 (see
In like manner, a lower joining pipe 46 is disposed upon the first end wall 28, the lower joining pipe 46 in open communication with the second storage tank 34. A lower connection pipe socket 48 is disposed in the second end wall 30, the lower connection pipe socket 48 in open communication with the second storage tank 34. The lower joining pipe 46 of a first of the plurality of fencing sections 20a is insertable into the lower connection pipe socket 48 of an adjacently placed second of the plurality of fencing sections 20b. Similarly as described above, water will only flow from said first fencing section 20a to said second fencing section 20b when the water level in the second storage tank 34 of said first fencing section 20a reaches the level of the lower joining pipe 46.
A plurality of T junction pipes 40 are included on each of the plurality of fencing sections 20, each of the plurality of T junction pipes 40 including a release valve 50. The plurality of T junction pipes 40 includes an upper T junction pipe 52 disposed upon the first end wall 28 proximal to the lower joining pipe 46, the upper T junction pipe 52 in open communication with the first storage tank 32, and a lower T junction pipe 54 disposed upon the first end wall 28 proximal to the base 26, the lower T junction pipe 54 in open communication with the second storage tank 34.
An upper T pipe socket 56 is likewise disposed on the second end wall 30 proximal to the lower connection pipe socket 48, the upper T pipe socket 56 in open communication with the first storage tank 32, and a lower T pipe socket 58 is disposed on the second end wall 30 proximal to the base 26, the lower T pipe socket 58 in open communication with the second storage tank 34. Water is drainable from each of the first and second storage tanks 32, 34 of each of the plurality of fencing sections 20 when the respective release valve 50 on one of the plurality of T junction pipes 40 is opened.
To securely erect the water storage fence apparatus 10 around a desired perimeter, such as a yard, a generally Y-shaped post 60, configured to be vertically and securely disposed in the ground, is included. The Y-shaped post 60 has a pair of upward forks 62. Each of the pair of upward forks 62 releasably engages with each of an adjacently disposed pair of the plurality of fencing sections 20. An open-ended first cavity 64 is disposed in the first end wall 28, said first cavity 64 open-ended at the base 26 configured to releasably receive each of the pair of upward forks 62. An open-ended second cavity 66 is likewise disposed in the second end wall 30, said second cavity 66 open-ended at the base 26 configured to releasably receive either one of the pair of upward forks 62.
A plurality of cover members 68 is configured to slidingly engage between a first of the plurality of fencing sections 20a and a second of the plurality of fencing sections 20b whereby the plurality of joining pipes 38 and the plurality of T junction pipes 40 are coverable and adjacently disposed sections of fencing 20 are securably interconnected as a single barrier. Each of the plurality of covers 68 enables access to the release valve 50 disposed on each of the plurality of T junction pipes 40.
A plurality of cap members 70 is also included, each of said cap members 70 configured to overlie the top side 24 of each of the plurality of fencing sections 20 whereby each of the plurality of fencing sections 20 is securably interconnected as a single barrier.
The water storage fence apparatus 10 is considered with a number of designs whereby the water storage fence apparatus 10 resembles a picket fence, a brick wall, or other aesthetic pleasing to a person seeking to use the instant water storage fence 10 to store rainwater in his yard. The water storage fence apparatus 10 also includes a plurality of attachable planter boxes 72, each of said plurality of planter boxes 72 releasably attachable to each of the plurality of fencing sections 20, as desired, to support extant flora thereupon. Each of the plurality of planter boxes 72 includes a plant draw 74 mountable to a particular fencing section 20, as desired, and a capping member 76 releasably attachable to a front section of the plant draw 74. The capping member 76 is configured with a design motif corresponding to the specific design of the water storage fence apparatus 10 desired by a particular user of the water storage fence apparatus 10 for rainwater storage, as agreeable to the personal aesthetic and taste of said particular user.
It should be noted that the plurality of T junction pipes 40 can be so arranged that a neighbor on one side of the water storage fence apparatus 10 has access to rainwater stored in the first water tank 32—the upper T junction pipe 52 of a particular fencing section 20 disposed with the corresponding release valve 50 oriented to be accessible through the corresponding cover member 68—and a neighbor on the other side of the water storage fence apparatus 10 has access to rainwater stored in the second storage tank 34—the lower T junction pipe 54 disposed on the particular fencing section 20 with the corresponding release valve 50 oriented to be accessible through the corresponding cover member 68. Rainwater collected across said neighbors' roofs may be diverted into the water storage fence apparatus 10, and a greater volume of rainwater more rapidly stored than use by a single person using the present water storage fence apparatus 10.
