U.S. patent application number 10/447364 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for drain blocker.
This patent application is currently assigned to New Pig Corporation. Invention is credited to Evans, R. Douglas JR., Healy, Patrick E..
Application Number | 20040237180 10/447364 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33451203 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040237180 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Evans, R. Douglas JR. ; et
al. |
December 2, 2004 |
Drain blocker
Abstract
A device for providing a temporary cover for drains and other
holes is provided, according to the present invention, to prevent
liquids from flowing therein. The inventive temporary covering
device generally includes a sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable
material having top and bottom surfaces. A pliable, liquid
impermeable material is attached to the bottom surface of the sheet
about a peripheral edge of the sheet. The pliable, liquid
impermeable material includes an exposed surface that is tacky so
that it may adhere to a surface surrounding the drain or other hole
to prevent the flow of liquid therebetween.
Inventors: |
Evans, R. Douglas JR.;
(Everett, PA) ; Healy, Patrick E.; (Gallitzin,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bryan H. Opalko, Esquire
Buchanan Ingersoll, P.C.
One Oxford Centre, 20th Floor
301 Grant Street
Pittsburgh
PA
15219
US
|
Assignee: |
New Pig Corporation
Tipton
PA
|
Family ID: |
33451203 |
Appl. No.: |
10/447364 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/293 |
International
Class: |
A47K 001/14 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A device for providing a temporary cover for drains or holes to
prevent liquids from flowing therein, said device comprising: a
sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable material having top and
bottom surfaces, the sheet having a first weight per unit area; and
a pliable, liquid impermeable material attached to the bottom
surface of the sheet about a peripheral edge of the sheet and
having a second weight per unit area greater than the first weight
per unit area, the pliable, liquid impermeable material having an
exposed surface that is inherently tacky so that it may adhere to a
surface surrounding the drain or hole to prevent flow of liquid
therebetween.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pliable, liquid impermeable
material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane,
polyvinyl chloride, vinyls, silicons and soft rubber.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sheet of flexible, liquid
impermeable material is selected from the group consisting of
vinyls, silicons, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, soft rubber and
plastic..
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sheet of flexible, liquid
impermeable material has a shape selected from the group consisting
of square, circular, triangular and rectangular.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is postionable over
the drain or hole such that the exposed surface of the pliable,
liquid impermeable material contacts a portion of the surface
surrounding the drain or hole whereby the device is adapted for
preventing a liquid from passing through the drain or hole.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least the top surface of the
sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable material comprises a color
that is highly visible.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sheet of flexible, liquid
impermeable material comprises a sheet of woven or nonwoven fabric
surrounded by a liquid impermeable material.
8. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one
stabilizing member provided on the bottom surface of the sheet
between the pliable, liquid impermeable material.
9. A device for providing a temporary cover for drains or holes to
prevent liquids from flowing therein, said device comprising: a
sheet of liquid impermeable material having top and bottom
surfaces; and a pliable, liquid impermeable material attached to
the bottom surface of the sheet about a peripheral edge of the
sheet, the pliable, liquid impermeable material having an exposed
surface that is tacky such that it may adhere to a surface
surrounding the drain or hole to prevent flow of liquid
therebetween.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the pliable, liquid impermeable
material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane,
polyvinyl chloride, vinyls, silicons and soft rubber.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein the exposed surface of the
pliable, liquid impermeable material is inherently tacky.
12. The device of claim 9, wherein the sheet of liquid impermeable
material is flexible and is selected from the group consisting of
vinyls, silicons, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, soft rubber and
plastic.
13. The device of claim 9, wherein the sheet of liquid impermeable
material has a shape selected from the group consisting of square,
circular, triangular and rectangular.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the sheet of liquid impermeable
material includes a first weight per unit area, and wherein the
pliable, liquid impermeable material includes a second weight per
unit area greater than the first weight per unit area.
15. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is postionable over
the drain or hole such that the exposed surface of the pliable,
liquid impermeable material contacts a portion of the surface
surrounding the drain or hole whereby the device is adapted for
preventing a liquid from passing through the drain or hole.
16. The device of claim 9, wherein at least the top surface of the
sheet of liquid impermeable material comprises a color that is
highly visible.
17. The device of claim 9, wherein the sheet of liquid impermeable
material comprises a sheet of woven or nonwoven fabric surrounded
by a liquid impermeable material.
18. A device for providing a temporary cover for drains or holes to
prevent liquids from flowing therein, said device comprising: a
sheet of liquid impermeable material having top and bottom
surfaces, the sheet having a thickened portion provided adjacent a
peripheral edge of the sheet, the thickened portion including an
exposed surface that is tacky such that it may adhere to a surface
surrounding the drain or hole to prevent flow of liquid
therebetween.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the sheet of liquid impermeable
material is flexible and is selected from the group consisting of
vinyls, silicons, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, soft rubber and
plastic.
20. The device of claim 18, wherein the thickened portion comprises
a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane,
polyvinyl chloride, vinyls, silicons and soft rubber attached to
the bottom surface of the sheet adjacent the peripheral edge of the
sheet, the thickened portion material being pliable.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the exposed surface of the
thickened portion material is inherently tacky.
22. The device of claim 18, wherein the thickened portion of the
sheet includes a first weight per unit area, and wherein other
portions of the sheet include a second weight per unit area less
than the first weight per unit area.
23. The device of claim 18, wherein the sheet of liquid impermeable
material has a shape selected from the group consisting of square,
circular, triangular and rectangular.
24. The device of claim 18, wherein the sheet of liquid impermeable
material comprises a flexible sheet of woven or nonwoven fabric
surrounded by a liquid impermeable material.
25. The device of claim 18, further comprising at least one
stabilizing member provided on the bottom surface of the sheet
between the thickened portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed toward portable drain
covers and, more particularly, toward a temporary cover for
covering, drains, vents, holes and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is often desirable to temporarily close off drains to
prevent various liquids from flowing therein. Particularly, when
handling hazardous liquids in the vicinity of a drain, such as a
storm drain or manhole, it is desirable to temporarily seal off the
drain to prevent any hazardous liquid that may be accidentally
spilled on the ground from entering the drain. Some known methods
of sealing off a drain to prevent the possible ingress of liquids
include, but are not limited to, providing custom fitted ridged
covers, utilizing manual or automatic cutoff valves, covering the
drain with a flexible material (e.g., canvas) and covering the
flexible material with dirt or sand, and utilizing a uniformly
thick sheet of polyurethane, vinyls, and other pliable materials to
cover the entire drain. However, these known methods of drain
isolation have certain practical limitations to their
usefulness.
[0003] Utilizing custom fitted ridged covers or cutoff valves
requires extensive preparation and installation efforts.
Manufacturing a custom fitted cover and/or installing cutoff valves
are both time consuming endeavors. Neither a customer fitted cover
nor an installed cutoff valve can be easily adapted for use in
covering and isolating drains other than the one for which the
cover or valve was specifically designed. Moreover, once a custom
fitted cover or cutoff valve is in place in a drain or drain
system, neither is readily removable and/or transportable to
another location for use.
[0004] Utilizing a flexible material held in place by dirt or sand
to seal off a drain also presents certain problems in that such a
covering is difficult to work with and is cumbersome and time
consuming to implement in emergency situations. The effective seal
surrounding the drain is limited by the dirt or sand utilized to
hold the flexible material in place, and is further limited in that
the dirt or sand may be washed away or eroded during flooding. Such
a drain covering has limited reusability and transportability, and
the seal effectuated thereby has little resistance to the shear
forces of onrushing liquids.
[0005] Uniformly thick sheets of polyurethane, vinyls, and other
pliable materials exhibit useful reusability and transportability
properties, and are generally reliable when utilized to cover small
drains or holes. However, when utilized to cover larger drains,
such as those on the order of 30.times.30 inches and above, the
large polyurethane/vinyl sheets required to cover such drains
become heavy and difficult to transport and implement in emergency
situations.
[0006] The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or
more of the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A device for providing a temporary cover for drains and
other holes is provided, according to the present invention, to
prevent liquids from flowing therein. The inventive temporary
covering device generally includes a sheet of flexible, liquid
impermeable material having top and bottom surfaces. The sheet
includes a thickened portion provided adjacent a peripheral edge of
the sheet, with the thickened portion including an exposed surface
having a tackifier thereon such that it may adhere to a surface
surrounding the drain to prevent the flow of liquid
therebetween.
[0008] In one form, the thickened portion of the sheet includes a
pliable, liquid impermeable material attached to the bottom surface
of the sheet about the peripheral edge of the sheet. The pliable,
liquid impermeable material includes a tackifier on the exposed
surface thereof so that it may adhere to a surface surrounding the
drain to prevent the flow of liquid therebetween.
[0009] In another form, the sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable
material includes a first weight per unit area, with the pliable,
liquid impermeable material including a second weight per unit area
greater than the first weight per unit area. Thus, the temporary
covering device forms a seal around the drain at the outer
periphery of the sheet.
[0010] In a further form, the exposed surface of the pliable,
liquid impermeable material is inherently tacky so that it may
adhere to a surface surrounding the drain to prevent the flow of
liquid therebetween.
[0011] In yet a further form, the pliable, liquid impermeable
material includes polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, vinyls,
silicons, soft rubber, or other soft, pliable materials, and the
sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable material includes vinyls,
silicons, soft rubber, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, or other
flexible materials.
[0012] In still a further form, the sheet of flexible, liquid
impermeable material may take virtually any shape, including, but
not limited to, square, circular, triangular, rectangular, etc.
Similarly, the pliable, liquid impermeable material may also take
any shape, and does not necessarily need to coincide with the shape
of the sheet.
[0013] The temporary covering device of the present invention is
positionable over a drain or other hole such that the exposed
surface of the pliable, liquid impermeable material contacts a
portion of the surface surrounding the drain or other hole, whereby
the temporary covering device is adapted for preventing a liquid
from passing through the drain or other hole. For safety purposes,
at least the top surface of the sheet of flexible, liquid
impermeable material may include a color that is highly
visible.
[0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
temporary cover for drains and other holes.
[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
temporary cover for drains and other holes that is readily reusable
and transportable.
[0016] It is yet a further object of the present to provide a
temporary cover for drains and other holes that may be quickly
implemented to seal the drain and/or hole in an emergency
situation.
[0017] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide a temporary cover for drains and other holes that may be
implemented for use with a variety of different types and sizes of
drains and/or holes.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
temporary cover for drains and other holes that forms a tight seal
around the drain/hole to block out liquids from entering the drain
or hole.
[0019] Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present
invention can be obtained from a study of the application, the
drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a top view of the temporary drain cover according
to the present invention used in connection with sealing off a
drain;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in
FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a bottom, perspective view of the inventive
temporary drain cover;
[0023] FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of
the sheet material included in the inventive temporary drain
cover;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a top view of a modified form of the temporary
drain cover according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a top view of an additional modified form of the
temporary drain cover according to the present invention; and
[0026] FIG. 7 is a top view of yet a further modified form of the
temporary drain cover according to the present invention used in
connection with sealing off a drain.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a temporary covering device for
drains and other holes according to the present invention is shown
generally at 10. In its broadest form, the inventive covering
device 10 includes a sheet of liquid impermeable material 12 having
top 14 and bottom 16 surfaces. While the sheet 12 is generally
rectangular in shape, other shapes are contemplated. The sheet 12
includes a thickened portion 18 provided adjacent a peripheral edge
of the sheet 12. The thickened portion 18 includes an exposed
surface 20 having a tackifier (not shown) thereon, or is inherently
tacky, such that it may adhere to a surface surrounding a drain or
hole to prevent the flow of liquids there between.
[0028] The sheet of liquid impermeable material 12 is generally
flexible and, in one form, is made of vinyl or other similar
flexible and water impermeable materials. The thickened portion 18
generally includes a pliable, liquid impermeable material 22
attached to the bottom surface 16 of the sheet 12. The pliable,
liquid impermeable material 22 may be attached to the bottom
surface 16 of the sheet 12 via glue, or any other attachment means
such that a watertight seal is formed between the pliable, liquid
impermeable material 22 and the sheet 12. The exposed surface 20 of
the pliable, liquid impermeable material includes a tackifier (not
shown) thereon, or is inherently tacky, such that it may adhere to
a surface surrounding a drain or hole to prevent the flow of
liquids therebetween. It is contemplated herein that the pliable,
liquid impermeable material 22 be approximately 3/8" thick,
however, the pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 may be of any
thickness without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0029] It should be understood that the various materials
contemplated for use as the flexible sheet 12 and the pliable,
liquid impermeable material 22 will overlap, since many of the
materials will exhibit both flexible and pliable properties. For
example, it is contemplated herein that the pliable, liquid
impermeable material 22 may include polyurethane, polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), vinyls, silicons, soft rubber, and other similar
soft, pliable materials and mixtures thereof. Similarly, it is
contemplated herein that the flexible, liquid impermeable sheet 12
may include vinyls, silicons, polyurethane, PVC, soft rubber or
plastic, and other similar flexible materials and mixtures thereof.
In a preferred form, the sheet 12 will be thinner than the pliable,
liquid impermeable material 22, however, both the sheet 12 and the
pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 may be of any thickness
(same thickness or not) without departing from the spirit and scope
of the present invention. Further, both the sheet 12 and the
pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 may be of the same material
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible sheet 12' may include a
woven fabric 23 surrounded by and encased in a liquid impermeable
material 24, which may include any of the previously mentioned
materials. In one form, the flexible sheet 12' includes a
geotextile material, such as that sold under the trade name
XR.sub.5.TM.. XR-5.TM. can be used with a wide range of harsh
liquids and includes a tough, woven synthetic fabric molecularly
coated with a liquid impermeable plastic-type compound that is
minimally degradable even in adverse environments. Geotextile
materials, such as XR-5.TM., are durable, flexible, and exhibit
good dimensional stability, tensile strength and puncture
resistance. It should be understood, however, that the woven fabric
23 of the flexible sheet 12' may include any woven fabric, natural
or synthetic, and may even include nonwoven fabrics, natural or
synthetic, without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention. Similarly, the liquid impermeable material 24 of
the flexible sheet 12' may include any liquid impermeable material
sufficient to surround the woven fabric 23 without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0031] The pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 may be made of a
denser material than the sheet 12, and includes a weight per unit
area that is greater than the weight per unit area of the sheet 12.
By providing a heavier material at the peripheral edge of the sheet
12, an effective seal may be formed around the drain or other hole
by the heavier material 22, while the lighter sheet material 12
covers the drain or other hole. Even if the pliable, liquid
impermeable material 22 and the sheet material 12 are made from the
same material with the same thickness, the peripheral edge of the
sheet 12 will still have an increased weight due to the material 22
provided thereon. When polyurethane is used as the pliable, liquid
impermeable material 22, generally the exposed surface 20 thereof
will be inherently tacky as discussed below. If other materials are
used for the pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 that do not
have such inherent tackiness, a tackifier may be applied to the
exposed surface thereof. While a process is described below for
manufacturing polyurethane having an inherent tackiness, one
skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials, such as,
for example, vinyls, silicons and rubbers, may also be manufactured
to have an inherent tackiness.
[0032] The pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 may be made from
polyurethane as mentioned above. Particularly, a mixture of various
polyurethanes is poured into a mold and allowed to cure. The liquid
polyurethane is mixed and cured in a manner which gives it a
moderate degree of inherent tackiness to all exposed surfaces of
the polyurethane material. The molding and curing process creates a
substantially smooth bottom surface 20, which may contain minor
undulations. The polyurethane material is soft, yet resilient, and
thus may be easily severed by a user with a knife. Surfaces of the
polyurethane material which are exposed when a portion of it is
severed are also inherently tacky.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, the inventive covering device 10 has
particular utility when utilized to seal off a drain or other hole,
shown generally at 25. To implement the covering device 10 for use,
the user first determines the size of the covering device 10 needed
for covering the drain 25. It is contemplated herein that for best
performance, the inner edge of the pliable, liquid impermeable
material 22 should be a distance "d" of approximately 0-3 inches
from an edge of the drain 25. However, the distance "d" is set
forth herein for exemplary purposes only and is not meant to limit
the invention in any way. For example, the pliable, liquid
impermeable material 22 can overlap the drain edge, and the drain
25 will remain sealed as long as sufficient material 22 is
positioned about the drain 25 to seal off the edge of the drain
25.
[0034] The user places the temporary cover 10 over the drain 25 and
the bottom surface 20 of the pliable, liquid impermeable material
22 adheres to the surface surrounding the drain 25 forming a seal.
The adherence of the pliable, liquid impermeable material 22,
coupled with its resilient pliability, creates a seal on the
surface surrounding the drain 25 which is sufficient to prevent the
flow of liquid past the pliable, liquid impermeable material 22.
The pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 will work its way into
various undulations in the surface and create an effective seal
even when the surface surrounding the drain 25 is not smooth.
Further, the sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable material 12
covers the drain 25, such that the device 10 seals off and covers
the drain 25 to prevent the flow of liquid therein.
[0035] Since the pliable, liquid impermeable material 22 is
provided only at the outer periphery of the sheet 12, the inventive
covering device 10 may be lightweight and readily implemented for
use in emergency situations, such as where hazardous liquids are
accidentally spilled near a drain opening. Further, both the
flexible, liquid impermeable sheet 12 and the pliable, liquid
impermeable material 22 will resist water, oil and many chemicals
making the cover 10 suitable for use in many types of work
environments, including hazardous work environments. The inventive
cover 10 is readily reusable and cleans up easily with soap and
water. For safety purposes, the top surface 14 of the sheet 12 may
be made of a color that is highly visible, such as orange, yellow,
red and the like.
[0036] As shown in phantom in FIG. 3, to add stability to the
covering device 10, stabilizing members 27 may be provided
extending between the frame defined by the pliable, liquid
impermeable material 22 along the bottom surface 16 of the flexible
sheet 12. The stabilizing members 27 may be made of any of the
materials previously described for the flexible sheet 12 and the
pliable, liquid impermeable material 22, or may be made from a
totally different material. The exposed surface of the stabilizing
members 27 may or may not be tacky. Preferably, the stabilizing
members 27 will be flexible so that the covering device 10 may be
rolled or folded for storage. However, the stabilizing members 27
may be made of a rigid material without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention. Further, while the stabilizing
members 27 are shown in FIG. 3 in the form of a cross or an "X" ,
the stabilizing members 27 may be provided in any
configuration.
[0037] It should be understood herein that various shapes and sizes
of the inventive cover 10 may be implemented without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, as
shown in FIG. 5, the inventive cover 30 may include a circular
sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable material 32 having a
thickened portion 34 including a pliable, liquid impermeable
material 36 provided about an outer periphery of the sheet 32. As
shown in FIG. 5, the pliable, liquid impermeable material 36 is
also of a circular shape and is attached to the bottom surface of
the sheet 32 in a manner as previously described.
[0038] Additionally, hybrid forms of the present inventive cover
are contemplated wherein the shape of the flexible, liquid
impermeable sheet does not coincide with the shape of the pliable,
liquid impermeable material. As shown in FIG. 6, the inventive
covering device 40 includes a square sheet of flexible, liquid
impermeable material 42 having a thickened portion 44 including a
pliable, liquid impermeable material 46 provided about an outer
periphery of the sheet 42. The pliable, liquid impermeable material
46 is attached to the bottom surface of the sheet 42 in a manner as
previously described. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the pliable,
liquid impermeable material 46 defines a circular shape on the
bottom surface of the inventive cover 40 which does not coincide
with the generally square shape of the flexible, liquid impermeable
sheet 42.
[0039] The inventive covering device described herein may be
utilized to cover virtually any type of drain or hole, so long as a
sufficient distance is provided between the edge of the pliable,
liquid impermeable material and the drain edge such that a seal may
be formed with a surface surrounding the drain. As an example, FIG.
7 illustrates a generally square covering device 50 utilized to
seal off a generally circular shaped drain 52. The inventive cover
50 includes a pliable, liquid impermeable material 54 attached to
the bottom surface of the sheet of flexible, liquid impermeable
material 54 in a manner as previously described. The pliable,
liquid impermeable material 56 forms a seal with the surface
surrounding the drain 52, while the flexible, liquid impermeable
sheet 56 covers the drain 52. As long as a sufficient distance "d"
is maintained between the edge of the drain 52 and the inner edge
of the pliable, liquid impermeable material 54, a sufficient seal
will be formed to prevent the flow of liquid into the drain 52.
[0040] Various constructions of the inventive cover have been
described herein. However, these particular constructions are by no
means exhaustive, and other configurations may be utilized in
accordance with the teachings herein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, while the
flexible, liquid impermeable sheet and the pliable, liquid
impermeable material have been described herein as including
different materials, they may be made from the same polyurethane or
other material without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention. By providing the pliable material about a
peripheral edge of a generally lightweight, flexible sheet, an
effective seal will be formed around a drain, while the cover will
be generally lightweight and capable of quick and easy
implementation even for large drains on the order of 30 x 30 inches
and greater. If the pliable material is heavier than the sheet
material, this will also aid in forming an effective seal around
the drain. Further, while a few exemplary shapes for the sheet of
flexible, liquid impermeable material have been described herein,
the sheet may take virtually any shape, including, but not limited
to, square, circular, triangular, rectangular, etc., without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Similarly, the pliable, liquid impermeable material may also take
any shape, and does not necessarily need to coincide with the shape
of the sheet.
[0041] Further, while the sheet 12, 12' has been described herein
as being flexible, the sheet 12, 12' may also be made of a rigid
material without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. The rigid material may be selected from any rigid
material having liquid impermeable properties.
[0042] While the present invention has been described with
particular reference to the drawings, it should be understood that
various modifications could be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *