Abstract:
A system for controlling flooding comprises a fitting coupled to a preexisting drain pit in a building, a pipe connected to the fitting and having a portion extending upwardly therefrom, and a first drainage line extending from the pipe to a drainage area for discharge of water from within the drain pit. The fitting may be sealingly coupled to the preexisting drain pit. According to one aspect, the fitting may at least partially extend into the drain pit. For example, the fitting may extend at least four inches into the drain pit. Further, a cap may be attached to an open end of the pipe remote from the fitting. In some instances, the system may further comprise a pump within said drain pit underlying the fitting pump. This pump may be a sump pump or a removable pump. Even further included may be a control for operating the pump.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 60/868,595 filed Dec. 5, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Groundwater flooding can cause many problems for homeowners, such as structural damage, sewer system back-ups, and damaged appliances. During extreme flooding, water pressure can collapse foundation walls. Many homes have full or partial basements, which act as reverse swimming pools, holding water from rainfall or melted snow outside its walls. 
         [0003]    Foundation drain tile systems may transport ground water away from a basement. As the water content in soil surrounding a house increases, the water travels down alongside a foundation into a pipe. The drain tile or pipe is usually four inches in diameter and is perforated or has pre-drilled holes along its length. The pipes may be laid to catch water from areas surrounding and underneath a basement. Filter media or gravel is used to cover the drain tile. Water flows readily through the gravel in to the pipe. The drain tile pipe runs beneath the basement to a sump pit installed in the basement where the water is collected. The collected water is typically removed from the sump pit using a sump pump. 
         [0004]    Typical sump pumps detect when the level of the collected water reaches a predetermined height. Specifically, a float may be positioned in the sump pit, wherein the float activates an electromechanical pump when the water raises the float to a particular height. Once the pump is activated, the electrically powered pump forces water up through a pipe running up and out of the basement. 
         [0005]    Typical sump pumps may be problematic in that they require electricity to operate. Accordingly, if the power goes out during a strong storm, when large amounts of water likely collect around a basement, the pump will not operate. Further, when the pump is operative, it consumes high amounts of electricity, thus wasting resources and increasing utility costs. Accordingly, a “greener” and more reliable alternative is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One aspect of the present invention provides a system for controlling flooding, comprising a fitting coupled to a preexisting drain pit in a building, a pipe connected to the fitting and having a portion extending upwardly therefrom, and a first drainage line extending from the pipe to a drainage area for discharge of water from within the drain pit. The fitting may be sealingly coupled to the preexisting drain pit. According to one aspect, the fitting may at least partially extend into the drain pit. For example, the fitting may extend at least four inches into the drain pit. Further, a cap may be attached to an open end of the pipe remote from the fitting. 
         [0007]    A second drainage line may be connected to the pipe and extend to the drainage area or another drainage area. The drainage area may include preexisting plumbing, such as a sink. In some instances, the system may further comprise a pump within said drain pit underlying the fitting pump. This pump may be a sump pump or a removable pump. Even further included may be a control for operating the pump. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the invention provides a system for controlling flooding comprising a fitting sealingly coupled to a preexisting drain pit in a building and at least partially covering a sump pump within the drain pit, said sump pump having a first pipe extending upwardly therefrom. A second pipe may be connected to the fitting, having a portion extending upwardly therefrom, and surrounding at least a portion of the first pipe. A drainage line may extend from the second pipe to a drainage area, the drainage line providing an outlet for water rising up the second pipe. 
         [0009]    Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method of making a system adapted for controlling flooding in a building having an open drain pit. This method comprises arranging a fitting overlaying an opening of said drain pit, and forming a seal between said fitting and said drain pit to provide at least a partially sealed environment between said fitting and said drain. Moreover, the method comprises coupling a discharge line between said fitting in fluid communication with said partially sealed environment and a remote drainage area, whereby water present in said drain pit is channeled through said fitting to said drainage area via said discharge line. 
         [0010]    This method may further comprise arranging a pump within the drain pit and arranging the fitting around at least a portion of the pump. Further, an actuator may be provided for the engaging the pump, the actuator being manual or automatic. 
         [0011]    A further aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling flooding, comprising a fitting having one end adapted to be coupled to a preexisting drain pit in a building, and having another end adapted to be coupled to a pipe. A pipe interconnectable with the fitting may have a portion extending upwardly therefrom. A drainage line may extend from the pipe to a drainage area for discharge of water from within said drain pit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a flood control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway perspective view of a flood control system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    According to an embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a flood control system  100  is provided wherein a fitting  150  of the system  100  is inserted into a drainage pit  110  preformed in floor  130 . Connected to the fitting  150  is a pipe  160  extending upwardly away from the pit  110 . A cap  180  may cover an open end of the pipe  160 , for example, to prevent any debris from falling into the pipe  160 . Connected to the pipe  160  are first and second drainage lines  170 ,  175 . As shown, the first drainage line  170  extends through a wall  132  of the building, and further extends a substantial distance away from the wall  132 . Second drainage line  175  connects to a preexisting plumbing source, such as a utility sink  136 . 
         [0016]    A drain tile  120  is positioned to divert water to the drain pit  110 . Specifically, the drain tile  120  may include perforations  124 , so that when water seeps through the ground  134  and through filter  126 , it will further seep into the drain tile  120 . From there it is carried to an end  122  of the drain tile  120  and into the drain pit  110 . According to one embodiment, the end  122  of the drain tile  120  may include a check valve so that water only flows into the drain pit  110  and not back into the tile  120 . 
         [0017]    Accordingly, as groundwater seeps into the drain pit  110 , the water level will rise up the pit  110  into the fitting  150  and further up the pipe  160 . When the water level reaches the height of the drainage line  170 , it will exit through the first drainage line  170  and away from the building. Any water rising above the first drainage line  170  exits through the second drainage line  175 . 
         [0018]    Drain pits installed in many homes are typically one of a few standard sizes. For example, a substantial number of drain pits are ten inches in diameter. Accordingly, the fitting  150  may be formed with a ten inch diameter to securely fit within the drain pit  110 . Moreover, various models of the fitting  150  may correlate to the standard sizing of drain pits. 
         [0019]    The fitting  150  may preferably include a round outer surface to comfortably fit within the drain pit  110 . That is, because most drain pits are cylindrical, a rounded outer surface of the fitting  150  would closely correlate to a surface of the drain pit  110 , thereby providing a more secure fit. However, it should be understood that an outer surface of the fitting  150  may be any shape, including rectangular, octagonal or irregularly shaped. 
         [0020]    According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the fitting  150  further includes a second surface extending towards the pipe  160 . As better seen in  FIG. 2 , second surface  254  extends between the first surface of the fitting and the pipe. This surface may be frustoconical, thereby forcing any water rising therethrough up towards the pipe  160 . However, similar to the surface corresponding to the drain pit  110 , the second surface may be any size or shape. Moreover, it should be understood that the fitting  150  may include any number of surfaces. For example, the fitting  150  may be hemispherical, cubical, cylindrical, polygonal, or irregularly shaped. 
         [0021]    The fitting  150  may be formed of any of a variety of materials, including but not limited to metals, plastics, glass, and polymers. Plastic may preferably be used in order to withstand wear (e.g., rust) caused by frequent contact with water. Some examples of durable and cost-efficient plastics include vinyl, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. 
         [0022]    As mentioned above, the fitting  150  may be placed at least partially within the drain pit  110 . Preferably, the fitting  150  may be submersed four to six inches into the drain pit  110 . However, it should be understood that the fitting  150  may be placed any depth into the drain pit  110 , or not into the drain pit  110  at all. For example, the fitting  150  may be arranged to cover the drain pit  110 , wherein a bottom surface of the fitting  150  rests on the floor  130 . This aspect will be explained in more detail with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]    To ensure a more secure placement of the fitting  150  in or over the drain pit  110 , a seal may be implemented. For example, where the fitting  150  is placed within the drain pit  110 , a seal may fill any gaps between the outer surface of the fitting  150  and the inner surface of the drain pit  150 . Further, a seal may be placed near a top portion of the drain pit  110  approximately level with the floor  130 . In this regard, the seal ensures that no water escapes from the pit  110 , and that the flood control system  100  remains securely in place. Any of a variety of sealants may be used to this effect, including cork, shellac compound, or weather stripping sealant, caulking compounds, waterproof or resistant adhesives, and the like. 
         [0024]    The pipe  160  may vary over a wide range of lengths. According to one embodiment, where the drainage line  170  leads to an area outside the building, the pipe  160  may be at least as tall as the distance to ground level. For example, if the basement is five feet under ground, the pipe  160  may preferably be five or six feet long. In this regard, water channeled up the pipe  160  may naturally flow down through drainage line  170  due to gravity. According to another example, where the drain pit  110  is thirty feet below grade, the pipe  160  may extend approximately thirty-five feet upward. Although the pipe  160  is shown as being straight and extending approximately vertically, it should be understood that the pipe  160  may take a variety of forms, for example, as described in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
         [0025]    The pipe  160  may also vary in diameter. Although according to one aspect of the invention the pipe may preferably be six inches in diameter, the pipe  160  may be wider or narrower according to other aspects. For example, in the embodiment explained below in connection with  FIG. 2 , where a conventional sump pump resides within the flood control system, a wider diameter pipe  160  may be preferred. Moreover, the diameter of the pipe  160  may be determined by an average water content of the ground on which the building resides. Thus, for example, in areas with substantial levels of groundwater, a wider pipe  160  may be desired to prevent overflow. 
         [0026]    Similar to the fitting  150 , any of a variety of materials may be used to form the pipe  160 . For example, the pipe may be plastic, aluminum, tin, or glass. Further, the pipe  160  may be composed of the same or different material as the fitting  150 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cap  180  may cover an open end of the pipe  160 . The cap  180  may prevent any debris from falling into the pipe  160  and interfering with the flood control system  100 . Additionally, the cap  180  may prevent the water level within the pipe  160  from rising over the top end of the pipe  160 . 
         [0028]    Drainage lines  170 ,  175  may be connected to the pipe  160 , for example, via connectors (not shown) formed into the pipe  160 . The connectors may take the form of short spouts extending from a side of the pipe  160 . For ease of connection of drainage lines, the connectors may be threaded or may include some other fastening mechanism. Any connectors that are not used may merely be capped to prevent water leakage. 
         [0029]    The drainage lines  170 ,  175  may be any length or diameter. However, the lines  170 ,  175  should be large enough to easily allow water to pass through and out of the pipe  160 . Moreover, depending on the termination of the lines  170 ,  175 , they may also be of at least a predetermined length. For example, according to an aspect where the drainage line  170  extends through the wall  132  and to an area outside the building, the line  170  should preferably extend far enough away from the building that the water is not merely recycled back to the drain tile  120 . An example of an appropriate length in this circumstance may be twenty to thirty feet. According to another aspect where the drainage line  175  runs to a preexisting plumbing source, the line  175  may be shorter. For example, if the utility sink  136  is within close proximity of the flood control system  100 , a length of five to ten feet may be appropriate. 
         [0030]    Although the drainage lines  170 ,  175  may be placed anywhere along the pipe  160 , strategic placement may facilitate drainage of the water. For example, if the drainage line  170  is extending to an area outside the building, the line  170  should be placed at least as high as the ground level, and perhaps even higher. Moreover, a user may prefer that lesser amounts of water be drained to areas such as preexisting plumbing sources  136 . In this regard, the drainage line  175  may be used as an auxiliary drainage line, and placed above a main drainage line (e.g., line  170 ). 
         [0031]    Although two drainage lines  170 ,  175  are implemented in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , it should be understood that any number of lines may be used. For example, in areas with high groundwater content, more drainage lines may be desirable. However, in many circumstances, a single drainage line should be sufficient. 
         [0032]    The flood control system  100 , including the fitting  150 , the pipe  160 , the drainage lines  170 / 175 , and the cap  180  may be integrally formed. Alternatively, only some components, such as the fitting  150  and the pipe  160 , may be integrally formed. According to an even further embodiment, each component of the flood control system  100  may be a separate interconnectable component. Therefore, it should be understood that any number of components may be used with the system  100 , and components may be added or replaced as necessary. For example, a damaged pipe  160  may be replaced with another pipe. Further, if a taller or different shaped pipe would assist in drainage of water from the pit  110 , additional piping components may be attached to the existing pipe  160 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of the flood control system. According to this embodiment, the flood control system  200  is used in conjunction with a conventional sump pump  202 . Specifically, the conventional sump pump may reside within drain pit  210  and serve as a primary unit for channeling water away from a building. The flood control system  200  may serve as a backup means of preventing flooding in the event of failure of the sump pump  202 . Alternatively, the flood control system  200  may serve as the primary unit for diverting water, and the conventional sump pump  202  may be activated only as desired by a user. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a conventional sump pump  202  resides within a drain pit  210  connected to drain tile  220 . The flood control system  200  also partially resides within the drain pit  110  and surrounds a portion of sump pump pipe  206 . Sealant  290  may be applied around a portion of fitting  250  (e.g., lower portion  252 ) to secure the system  200  in place in the drain pit  210 . A second portion  254  of fitting  250  may connect to pipe  260 , which extends up and away from the fitting  250 . Connectors  272 ,  274  allow for connection of drainage line  270 , which extends outside through a wall  232 . 
         [0035]    Where the flood control system  200  is implemented as a backup, the conventional sump pump  202  may operate similarly to its operation without the flood control system  200 . Namely, when the water level in the drain pit  110  rises enough to lift float  204  to a predetermined height, the sump pump  202  would be activated. As it is connected to power supply  208 , water would be pumped from the drain pit  110  and up through pipe  206 . 
         [0036]    However, in the event of a power failure, or if the conventional pump  202  cannot pump the water quickly enough, the flood control system  200  would prevent overflow of the water from the drain pit  110 . For example, the water would raise up through the fitting  250  and into the pipe  260 . The water would then flow through drainage line  270  and out away from the building, without need for any electricity. 
         [0037]    Alternatively, the flood control system  200  may operate as the main unit for diverting water. For example, the conventional sump pump  202  may be manually switched on only as desired by a user. As a further example, the conventional sump pump  202  may automatically turn on as water begins to recede, in order to prevent any water below a level of the connectors  272 ,  274  from flowing back into the ground. This may be effected by, for example, placing sensors within the pipe  260  which detect a predetermined decrease in the water level. Such sensors may be configured to trigger activation of the sump pump  202  upon such detection. 
         [0038]    It should be understood that this embodiment may be varied, for example, to include a second drainage line attached to the connector  274 . Additionally, a cap may be placed at an end of the pipe  260 , while still permitting the channel  206  to pass through. 
         [0039]    According to a variant of this embodiment, a removable pump may be used in place of the conventional sump pump  202 . For example, a small pump may be inserted into the drain hole  210  through an open end of the pipe  260 . This pump may be powered electrically, mechanically, with batteries, or with any combination of such sources. For example, the pump may include a manual crank with a backup battery supply. Alternatively or additionally, the pump may include wiring for attachment to a power supply. This wiring may be passed through connector  274 , or any other opening in the pipe  260 . In this regard, the removable pump may be inserted and powered as needed to facilitate drainage of the water in the drain pit  210 . The pump may also be removed, for example, through the open end of the pipe  260 , as desired. 
         [0040]    According to another aspect, shown in  FIG. 3 , flood control system  300  may be configured over a preexisting drain pit  310 . For example, fitting  350  is positioned to cover the drain pit  310 , as opposed to residing within it. Accordingly, a lower portion of the fitting  350  may be sized and shaped to fit over an opening  312  of the drain pit  310 . The fitting  350  may be secured to the floor  330  by any means, such as with bolts, adhesive, solder, or the like. A seal  390  may be applied around a juncture of the fitting  350  and the floor  330  to ensure that no water leaks through this juncture. 
         [0041]    Also shown in  FIG. 3 , piping connected to the fitting  350  is composed of several different parts—lower pipe  360 , elbow pipe  362 , and end pipe  364 . End pipe  364  may be terminated by cap  380  to prevent spillage from its end. According to this embodiment, water rising up in drain pit  310  would be channeled into the fitting  350 , and further channeled into lower pipe  360 . Rather than rising up a tall pipe to a drainage line, the water would only rise up to the elbow pipe  360  before it was diverted into the end pipe  364 . End pipe  364  may be substantially parallel with floor  330 , or may even be positioned at an angle such that the cap  380  is lower than the elbow pipe  362 . Because drainage line  370  is connected to the end pipe  364 , any water that passed through the elbow pipe  362  would be drained. In this regard, the water may be drained quickly, and when the water rising though the fitting  350  recedes, water within the end pipe  364  would be drained through the drainage line  370 , as opposed to flowing back into the drain pit  310 . 
         [0042]    The foregoing embodiments may be used to control flooding in any type of building, such as commercial or residential properties. The system can also be used for any size property, for example, apartment buildings, large homes, smaller homes, and office buildings. 
         [0043]    It should be understood that the described embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. Although numerous features have been described with respect to each of the various embodiments, it should be understood that the features of one embodiment may be applied to any other. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.