Patent ID: 9151033
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: E03F

Abstract:
1. An automatically retractable screen (ARS), for a storm drain curb inlet, comprising a first mounting bracket assembly, a second mounting bracket assembly, a front screen assembly, an actuator assembly, and a first control arm, wherein: the front screen assembly: i. comprises a front screen having a substantially rectangular shape, a first front screen pivot, and a second front screen pivot, and ii. is swingably mounted between the first and second mounting bracket assemblies by the first and second front screen pivots; the actuator assembly: i. comprises a first actuator side plate, a second actuator side plate, an actuator bottom plate, an actuator back plate, a first actuator pivot, and a second actuator pivot, and ii. is swingably mounted between a first lateral side of the front screen and a second lateral side of the front screen by the first and second actuator pivots; the first control arm: i. comprises a substantially rectangular shape, a first control arm channel, and a first control arm pivot, and ii. is rotatably mounted on the first mounting bracket assembly by the first control arm pivot; a first control arm guide post is mounted on the first lateral side of the front screen; a first control arm lift post is mounted on the first actuator side plate; the first control arm channel comprises a first closed lock channel connected to a first main channel and is configured to slideably receive the first control arm guide post; the ARS is configured to assume a closed lock position in which: i. the actuator back plate is substantially parallel to the front screen; ii. a front side of the actuator bottom plate abuts a bottom side of the front screen; iii. a bottom side of the first control arm rests on the first control arm lift post; and iv. the first control arm closed locked channel receives the first control arm guide post; the ARS is configured such that, when in the closed lock position, an application of at least about 10 psi of pressure, in a frontward to rearward direction, to the actuator bottom plate causes the actuator assembly to swing on the first and second actuator pivots in a manner that causes the first control arm lift post to move in a rearward and upward direction and thereby rotate the first control arm on the first control arm pivot such that the first control arm guide post slides out of the first closed lock channel and into the first main channel, whereby the ARS achieves an initial unlocked position; and the ARS is configured such that, when in the initial unlocked position, an application of at least about 10 psi of pressure, in a frontward to rearward direction, to the front screen causes the front screen assembly to swing on the first and second front screen pivots into an open position.