U.S. patent application number 13/946261 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-31 for leak capture and containment device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Joseph Accetta, Stephen Boyd. Invention is credited to Joseph Accetta, Stephen Boyd.
Application Number | 20140209615 13/946261 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51221813 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140209615 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boyd; Stephen ; et
al. |
July 31, 2014 |
LEAK CAPTURE AND CONTAINMENT DEVICE
Abstract
A device for capturing, containing, and transporting liquid from
a leak. The device may include a tank that may include wheels for
easy transportation. The tank may include an opening at the top
with a funnel attached to direct the liquid into the tank. The
device may further include an outlet connected to the bottom of the
tank. A hose may connect to the outlet to direct the liquid from
the tank to a different area.
Inventors: |
Boyd; Stephen; (Holbrook,
NY) ; Accetta; Joseph; (Old Bridge, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Boyd; Stephen
Accetta; Joseph |
Holbrook
Old Bridge |
NY
NJ |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51221813 |
Appl. No.: |
13/946261 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61756990 |
Jan 25, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/562 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/562 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/40 20060101
B65D047/40 |
Claims
1. A leak containing device comprising: a base comprising a top
surface and a bottom surface; a liquid tank comprising a top
portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion of the
liquid tank is adjacent to the top surface of the base; a plurality
of wheels attached to the bottom surface of the base; an intake
portion comprising an opening near the top portion of the liquid
tank; a funnel attached to the intake portion, wherein the funnel
and the intake portion lead into the liquid tank.
2. The leak containing device of claim 1, wherein the intake
portion comprises a lid removably attachable to the top portion of
the liquid tank, wherein the lid comprises a lid stem, and wherein
the funnel is removably attachable to the lid stem.
3. The leak containing device of claim 2, further comprising
handles attached to the lid.
4. The leak containing device of claim 2, further comprising a
funnel stem extender comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein
the bottom end is removably attachable to the lid stem and the
funnel is removably attachable to the top end of the funnel stem
extender.
5. The leak containing device of claim 1, further comprising an
outlet near the bottom portion of the liquid tank.
6. The leak containing device of claim 5, wherein the outlet
comprises a hose bib.
7. The leak containing device of claim 6, further comprising a
plurality of different sized hose bibs attached near the bottom
portion of the liquid tank.
8. The leak containing device of claim 6, further comprising a hose
hanger attached to the device.
9. The leak containing device of claim 1, further comprising a
debris screen within the liquid tank, wherein the debris screen
separates an inside of the liquid tank into an upper portion and a
lower portion.
10. The leak containing device of claim 9, wherein the debris
screen is supported by a ledge protruding from an inner wall of the
liquid tank.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
provisional application No. 61/756,990, filed Jan. 25, 2013, the
contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a leak capture and
containment device and, more particularly, to a tank that may be
placed below a leak to capture and remove leaking liquids.
[0003] Water or other liquids leaking from valves, pipes or from
roof areas may happen quickly and often. The leaking liquid may
cause damage to finished areas in occupied or unoccupied areas,
such as offices, hospitals, homes or in other unwanted areas.
Current devices used to contain leaking water are labor intensive
and difficult to setup. The devices also make access to repairs
difficult while in place causing additional damage. Further, the
devices do not hold a significant amount of water and may require
areas to fasten to, which may not be available or strong
enough.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for an easy to use and
mobile capture and containment device for leaks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a leak containing
device comprises: a base comprising a top surface and a bottom
surface; a liquid tank comprising a top portion and a bottom
portion, wherein the bottom portion of the liquid tank is adjacent
to the top surface of the base; a plurality of wheels attached to
the bottom surface of the base; an intake portion comprising an
opening near the top portion of the liquid tank; a funnel attached
to the intake portion, wherein the funnel and the intake portion
lead into the liquid tank.
[0006] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a section view of the present invention, taken
along line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention, illustrating
an insertion extender.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0012] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a
device for capturing, containing, and transporting liquid from a
leak. The device may include a tank that may include wheels for
easy transportation. The tank may include an opening at the top
with a funnel attached to direct the liquid into the tank. The
device may further include an outlet connected to the bottom of the
tank. A hose may connect to the outlet to direct the liquid from
the tank to a different area.
[0013] The present invention may include a portable water holding
tank. In certain embodiments, the portable water holding tank may
include wheels so that it may be very easily and quickly placed
under a leak to catch, store, and evacuate water from unwanted or
occupied areas. When a leak occurs in a business, it is important
to minimize the damage of the surrounding area. The present
invention may be put in place to capture the leak quickly and with
less effort than most devices used for the same purpose. The
present invention is easily portable, and assembly is not required
which greatly reduces set up time and therefore minimizes damage.
The present invention may also be easily moved with the liquid
captured within.
[0014] The present invention may include a liquid tank 24. The tank
24 may include a top portion, a bottom portion, and a rounded
sidewall. The tank 24 may secure a liquid, such as water. The
present invention may further include a base 38. The base 38 may be
part of the liquid tank 24 or a separate component. The base 38 may
include a top surface and a bottom surface. In certain embodiments,
the bottom surface may include a plurality of wheels 40. The wheels
40 may include four casters. The bottom portion of the liquid tank
24 may be adjacent to the top surface of the base 38. Therefore,
the tank 24 may either be attached to or rest on the base 38 and
the liquid tank 24 may be moved around using the wheels 40.
[0015] The present invention may further include an intake portion.
The intake portion may be located near the top portion of the tank
24 and may include an opening into the inside of the liquid tank
24. In certain embodiments, a funnel 10 may be attached to the
intake portion, and may lead into the intake portion and into the
liquid tank 24. In certain embodiments, the intake portion may
include a lid 14 that is removably attachable to the top portion of
the liquid tank 24. The lid 14 may include a lid stem 16. The
funnel 10 may include a funnel stem 12 may be fit within and may be
removably 10 attachable to the lid stem 16. The lid 14 may be
secured to the top portion of the tank 14 by any securing device,
such as latches 22 that are releasably attachable to latch strikes
20. In certain embodiments, the lid 14 may further include handles
18 for grasping and holding the device.
[0016] In certain embodiments, the present invention may further
include an outlet near the bottom portion of the tank 24. The
outlet may include a valve that may be opened and closed to drain
the liquid from the inside of the tank 24. In certain embodiments,
the outlet may include a hose bib 28, 30. The hose bib 28, 30 may
include a small hose bib 28 and a large hose bib 30. In certain
embodiments, the hose bib 28, 30 may include a reducer 32 which may
reduce the hose bib 28 to a reduced size. A hose 42 may be attached
to the hose bibs 28, 30 so that the liquid may be drained in
another location. The different size hoses may purge the tank 24 to
different flow rates, depending on the flow of leak, to a different
location. In certain embodiments, the present invention may further
include a hose hanger 26 attached to the tank 24 to conveniently
secure the hose 42.
[0017] The present invention may further include a debris screen
34. The debris screen 34 may be on the inside of the liquid tank
24. The debris screen 34 may divide an upper portion of the tank 24
and a lower portion of the tank 24. In certain embodiments, the
debris screen 34 may be suspended within the tank 24 on a ledge 36
that may protrude from an inner wall of the liquid tank 24. The
debris screen 34 may be used to collect debris from the liquid that
is flowing into the tank 24. This may prevent the outlets from
becoming clogged. The debris screen 34 may be removable for
cleaning.
[0018] In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a
funnel stem extender 44. The funnel stem extender 44 may be a
tubular device that extends the lid stem 16 of the present
invention. The funnel stem extender 44 may include a bottom end and
a top end. The bottom end of the funnel stem extender 44 may be
releasably attachable to the lid stem 16. The top end of the funnel
stem extender 44 may be releasably attachable to the funnel 10.
Therefore, a user may attach the funnel stem extender 44 to the
device to extend the height of the funnel 10 and therefore further
prevent splashing of the liquid entering the tank 24.
[0019] The present invention may be a portable water tight holding
tank 24 on wheels 40 that may catch and store gallons of liquid.
The present invention may be easily rolled into the problem area.
When placed below a leak, the funnel 10 located on top of the tank
24 may direct the liquid, such as water, into the holding tank 24.
The holding tank 24 may either store the leaking water or may be
equipped to evacuate the water. The valve and outlet located at
bottom of tank 24 may be used by attaching a hose so that the water
may be evacuated to a designated location. The interior debris
screen 34 may prevent the valves from clogging. Using the present
invention, the liquid may be easily removed from the problem
area.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the present invention may be made of
a light weight non corrosive type material, such as a polymer. For
example, the present invention may be made of plastics, such as
polyvinyl chloride. In alternative embodiments, the present
invention may be used to drain liquid from pipes in a mechanical
system in a finished or occupied space, such as in hospitals,
commercial type office buildings, or buildings under construction
during testing.
[0021] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *