Abstract:
A combination fluid collection container and drive-up service point in a traffic lane. The fluid collection container for retention of leaked automobile fluids is thermally bonded to the traffic lane surface adjacent to a drive up service point. The shallow, rectangular basin is formed of a thermoplastic material which is impervious to automotive fuels and lubricants, and resistant to wear and degradation by the environment. The container is formed of multiple thermoplastic components which are assembled during installation on the traffic lane surface. These components include a base sheet which provides the bottom surface of the container, side walls, and end walls. The outer edges of the end walls may be tapered during installation to remove any abrupt discontinuities in the traffic lane surface. The leaked fluids are retained within the container until removed in compliance with local laws and codes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automobile drive up service points are provided by business and municipalities to make access to services more convenient for the driving public. Banking institutions have a long history of providing a drive up teller windows, and such service points have become very popular at other commercial venues such as fast food restaurants and pharmacies. Highway toll booths and automated banking machines, housed in kiosks, are additional examples of how drive up service points are well known in contemporary society. 
     Unfortunately, the automobiles which are used to access these drive up service points frequently leak or spill a variety of environmentally hazardous fluids at these locations during the brief time they are located there. These fluids include automobile fuel, lubricants, transmission fluids, and antifreeze, among others. These leaked or spilled fluids accumulate in the traffic lane at the drive up service points. Not only are these accumulations toxic to the environment, they present a safety hazard to pedestrian traffic and are unsightly. Additionally, these fluids have a deleterious effect on the traffic lane surface itself since they are known to attack the chemicals which bind asphalt together. When the surface integrity of asphalt is broken down in this way, rutting and pot holes begin to form and the pavement requires patching or replacement. 
     To protect themselves from injury liability, their property, and to maintain a pleasing appearance, owners of these facilities attempt to clean the traffic lane adjacent to the drive up service points by a variety of methods, including power washing the traffic lane surface and allowing the waste to flow into nearby storm sewers. These fluids can also migrate into water supplies as a result of storm runoff. However, these leaked or spilled automotive fluids are considered toxic wastes, and such disposals and runoffs are in violation of the Federal Clean Water Act, as well as various state and local laws. 
     A need exists to safely contain and store leaked or spilled automotive fluids which accumulate in the traffic lane adjacent to a drive up service point until the fluids can be safely and properly disposed of. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An innovative fluid collection container is provided which is thermally bonded to the surface of the traffic lane. The innovative container is a generally rectangular basin which is sized to be more narrow than an automobile&#39;s track, or distance between the centers of parallel wheels, allowing the automobile to pass over the container without contacting it. The fluid collection container is low in profile, and formed of a thermoplastic material which is impervious to automotive fuels and lubricants, resistant to wear, and resistant to degradation by sun, rain, and road salt. Glass beads are embedded within the thermoplastic material to provide a surface which is skid resistant, a safety feature important for pedestrian traffic. 
     The fluid collection container is installed on the surface of the traffic lane adjacent to the drive up service point at the location at which the vast majority of leaked or spilled automotive fluids accumulate. This location is spaced apart from the service point in the direction normal to the service point so that it resides below the longitudinal centerline of the automobile. This location is also spaced apart from the service point so as to lie ahead of the service point relative to the direction of traffic flow. This placement allows the fluid collection container to reside below the front end of the automobile, approximately between the front wheels of the automobile, when the driver is accessing the service point. 
     The innovative fluid collection container is formed of multiple thermoplastic components which are assembled during installation on the traffic lane surface. These components include a base sheet which provides the bottom surface of the container, side walls, and end walls. The leading and trailing edges of the end walls may be tapered during installation to remove any abrupt discontinuities in the traffic lane surface. When employed, this feature allows the traffic lane to be cleared by snow plows without damage to the fluid collection container. In areas of especially high traffic volume, the depth of the fluid collection container may be increased to provide additional fluid storage volume. 
     In traffic lanes where the innovative fluid collection container is fixed to the pavement surface, the leaked or spilled automobile fluids fall directly into the container while the automobile is stopped adjacent to a drive up service point. The fluids are retained within the container without leakage until safely and responsibly removed in compliance with local laws and codes, thus protecting the environment from needless automotive pollution. Use of the fluid collection container prevents degradation of the traffic lane surface by preventing destructive interaction between the leaked or spilled automotive fluids and asphalt, prolonging the functional life of the traffic lane surface. Further, when employed at new construction drive-up service points, use of the fluid collection container allows a choice of using the less expensive asphalt as the lane surface material rather than the more costly but more durable cement, since the innovative fluid collection container greatly increases integrity and useful life span of the asphalt. 
     Although drive up service points are designed for access by automobile traffic, it is not unknown for pedestrians to use these facilities. Additionally, drive up service points must be monitored and maintained by service personnel who approach them on foot. The innovative fluid collection container is provided with features which improve skid resistance and prevent the pedestrian from becoming soiled in the event that he/she steps into the fluid collection container as they approach a drive up service point. 
     A method of installing the fluid collection container on a traffic lane surface adjacent to a drive up service point is described. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the fluid collection container installed on the traffic lane surface adjacent to a drive up service point, where the container is located on the pavement surface ahead of the service point, the arrow indicating direction of traffic flow. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the traffic lane showing the fluid collection container installed adjacent to a drive up service point, where the longitudinal center line of the container is parallel to the traffic lane, where the transverse center line of the container is lies ahead of the service point, and the automobile (shown in phantom) is in a position to access the service point. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fluid collection container, illustrating how the side walls and end walls over lap the base sheet, and illustrating the tapered outer edges of the end walls. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the fluid collection container across line  4 — 4  shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the overlapped relationship of the end walls to the periphery of the base sheet, and the tapered outer edges of the end walls. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the fluid collection container across line  5 — 5  shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the overlapped relationship of the side walls to periphery of the base sheet. 
     FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of the sectional view of the fluid collection container across line  5 — 5  shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the stacked relationship of the elongate rectangular riser strips, employed to give the container additional depth, to the base sheet and the side walls. 
     FIG. 7 is perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the fluid collection container wherein the interior portion of the container is provided with a baffled mat so as to allow pedestrian traffic to step on the fluid collection container without slippage or soiling their shoes. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the fluid collection container across line  8 — 8  in FIG. 7, illustrating the relationship of the height of the mat to the height of the container, and showing how the baffling of the interior portion allows fluid to pool between the baffles. 
     FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the fluid collection container illustrating the method step of installing the base sheet wherein the base sheet is positioned and heat is applied to the base sheet using a heat source such as a propane torch. 
     FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the fluid collection container illustrating the method step of installing the elongate rectangular riser strips used to increase the depth of the container, wherein the elongate rectangular strips are positioned about the peripheral edge of the base sheet and then heat is applied using a heat source such as a propane torch. 
     FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the fluid collection container illustrating the method step of installing the end walls (or side walls), wherein the end walls (or side walls) are positioned so that its inside edge overlies the elongate rectangular riser strips and the peripheral edge of the base sheet, and its outside edge overlies the paved surface, and then heat is applied using a heat source such as a propane torch. 
     FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of the fluid collection container illustrating the method step of installing the end walls , wherein the outside edges of the end walls are tapered using a hand tool such as a putty knife so as to provide a smooth transition in elevation between the paved surface and the fluid collection container. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the fluid collection contain illustrating the fluid collection container formed as a single, preformed piece. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The inventive fluid collection container will now be described in detail with reference to the figures. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, fluid collection container  100  is fixed to the pavement surface  20  of a traffic lane  25  which may or may not be bounded by one or more curbs  30 . In the following description traffic lane surface  20  is formed of asphalt. However, it is well within the scope of this invention to employ fluid collection container  100  on surfaces formed of other materials, such as but not limited to cement. 
     Preferably rectangular in shape, container  100  is positioned relative to a drive up service point  10  as follows: The longitudinal centerline  110  of container  100  lies parallel to curb  30 . Longitudinal centerline  110  is spaced apart from drive up service point  10  approximately 34 inches along a line which is normal  120  to drive up service point  10 . Note that this spacing does not necessarily center container  100  over the centerline of traffic lane  25 . The transverse centerline  115  of container  100  is spaced apart from drive up service point  10  such that it lies ahead of, or beyond, drive up service point  10  approximately 34 inches with respect to the direction of traffic flow. This location positions container  100  approximately between the front wheels of the automobile, and beneath the engine and transmission of the automobile, when the driver of the automobile is accessing drive up service point  10 . 
     Drive-up service point  10  may preferably be defined as an access point for receiving goods or services along a traffic lane through a vehicular window. In other words when a vehicular driver brings a driven vehicle to a halt in order to enable the vehicular driver to more readily obtain goods or services from a drive-up window, automated teller machine, or similar other depot for enabling vehicular drivers to obtain good or services via a vehicular window (the access point), the drive-up window, automated teller machine, or similar other depot is located adjacent either the driver-side window of the vehicle or alternatively a passenger&#39;s window of the vehicle. The vehicular driver or a vehicular passenger may thus obtain the desired goods or services by extending an arm through the vehicular window to grasp goods or avail oneself of services. A generic drive-up service point  10  is generally illustrated in FIG. No.  1 . Drive-up service point  10  preferably comprises a substantially vertical service point interface  11  as illustrated in FIG. Nos.  1  and  2 . In this regard, it is noted that drive-up windows, automated teller machines. or similar other depots typically comprise a user interface with which the vehicular driver may interact to obtain goods or services. This interface or service point interface  11  typically comprises a substantially vertical window, touch pad, or other interactive means to enable the vehicular driver to more easily obtain the desired goods and services. 
     Service point interface  11  preferably comprises a fore service point edge  12  as illustrated in FIG. Nos.  1  and  2 ; a rear service point edge  13  as illustrated in FIG. Nos.  1  and  2 ; a superior service point edge  16  as illustrated in FIG. Nos.  1  and  2 ; and an inferior service point edge  17  as illustrated in FIG. No.  1 . A vertically-oriented interface plane referenced at  120  lies intermediate fore service point edge  12  and rear service point edge  13  as illustrated in FIG. No.  2 . It will be seen that interface plane  120  is preferably equidistant from fore service point edge  12  and rear service point edge  13  and thus necessarily is substantially vertically oriented. A spatial-locating plane  14  preferably extends through fore service point edge  12  as illustrated in FIG. No.  2 . Spatial-locating plane  14  is referenced and described so as to enable the reader to more readily ascertain the preferred location or preferred positioned placement of fluid collection container  100  as will be discussed in more detail below. 
     Service point interface preferably further comprises a substantially planar exterior surface as is generally illustrated in FIG. No.  1  and as is typical of drive-up windows, automated teller machines, or similar other depots. It will be understood that interface plane  120  is perpendicular to the exterior surface at a service point center as is generally illustrated in FIG. No.  2 . The service point center is equidistant from fore service point edge  12  and rear service point edge  13  and is essentially defined by the intersection of interface plane  120  with the planar exterior surface. It will be further understood from an inspection of FIG. No.  2  that spatial-locating plane  14  is preferably parallel with interface plane  120 . For purposes of directing the reader to the preferred positioned placement of fluid collection container  100 , interface plane  120  intersects longitudinal centerline  110  at a spatial-locating point  19  as referenced in FIG. No.  2 . 
     It is thus contemplated that the present invention essentially comprises fluid collection container  100  for use in combination with drive up service point  10 . Fluid collection container  100  and drive-up service point  10  thus comprise, in combination, a fluid collection container assembly or fluid collection container and a drive-up service point combination as preferably described hereinafter. 
     Fluid collection container assembly or fluid collection container  100  comprises at least five individual and separate components, which components are bonded together. The bonding process is described in more detail below. The components preferably comprise a rectangular, planar base sheet  138  as illustrated in FIG. Nos.  3 - 6 ; two rectangular, planar side walls as referenced at  134  and  136  in FIG. Nos.  3 ,  5 , and  6 ; and two rectangular, planar end walls as referenced at  130  and  132  in FIG. Nos.  3  and  4 . Base sheet  138 , side walls  134  and  136 , and end walls  130  and  132  preferably comprise or are constructed from a thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic material being impervious to vehicular or automotive fluids such as fuels, lubricants, and coolants. 
     Base sheet  138  preferably comprises a base sheet bottom surface  152  as illustrated in FIG. Nos.  4  and  5 ; a base sheet top surface  150  opposed to base sheet bottom surface  152  as illustrated in FIG. Nos.  4  and  5 ; a base sheet thickness intermediate base sheet top surface  150  and base sheet bottom surface  152 ; a base sheet peripheral edge  154  as illustrated in FIG. No.  4 ; a base sheet center  156  as illustrated in FIG. No.  3 ; a longitudinal axis as referenced at  158  in FIG. Nos.  3  and lies in the plane of base sheet  138  parallel to the length of the base sheet; and a transverse axis as referenced at  160  in FIG. No.  3  and lies in the plane of base sheet  138  parallel to the width of base sheet  138  and perpendicular to longitudinal axis  158 . Longitudinal axis  158  of base sheet  138  coincides with the longitudinal midline of the base sheet and extends from a first end of base sheet  138  to a second end of base sheet  138 . Transverse axis  160  of base sheet  138  coincides with the transverse midline of base sheet  138  and extends from a first side of base sheet  138  to a second side of base sheet  138 . 
     Base sheet  138  preferably further comprises a geometric center, the geometric center defined by the orthogonal intersection of longitudinal axis  158  and transverse axis  160  as is generally illustrated in FIG. No.  2 . It will be understood that longitudinal axis  158  preferably lies parallel to the traffic lane and thus the geometric center is preferably positioned adjacent the traffic lane surface at a base sheet center location. The base sheet center location is preferably spatially located approximately 34 inches from the exterior surface along interface plane  120  and approximately 54 inches from spatial-locating point  19  along longitudinal axis  158 . Spatial-locating plane  14  is preferably intermediate transverse axis  160  and a rearward end wall of fluid collection container  100  as is illustrated in FIG. No.  2 . In other words, given a right-handed Cartesian coordinate system in which the exterior surface lies in the X-Y plane (the X axis being the horizontal axis and the Y axis being the vertical axis) of the drawing page showing FIG. No.  1  and the origin of the coordinate system placed at the intersection of interface plane  120  and inferior service point edge  17 , interface plane  120  extends in the Z-plane or out of the drawing page showing FIG. No.  1 . The base sheet center location is then preferably located approximately 34 inches from the X-Y plane in the positive Z-direction along interface plane  120  and approximately 54 inches from spatial-locating point  19  in the positive X-direction along longitudinal axis  158 . No specified number of Y-direction inches is provided from inferior service point edge  17  to longitudinal axis  158  as it is noted that the measured dimensions between inferior service point edge  17  and longitudinal axis  158  will differ depending on the drive-up service point scenario with which fluid collection container  100  is utilized. Similarly, it is further recognized that the measured dimension between superior service point edge  16  and inferior service point edge  17  may differ in any given drive-up service point scenario. However, if inferior service point edge  17  were 36 inches from the traffic lane surface, then the base sheet center location may be thought of as being preferably positioned at about (+54i, −35⅞j, +34k) inches from the cited origin, given a base sheet thickness of about ⅛ inch. 
     Side walls  134  and  136  each preferably comprise a side wall bottom surface  164  as illustrated in FIG. No.  5 ; a side wall top surface  162  opposed to side wall bottom surface  164  as illustrated in FIG. No.  5 ; a side wall thickness; a side wall inside edge  166  as illustrated in FIG. No.  5  and a side wall outside edge  168  as illustrated in FIG. No.  5 . End walls  130  may preferably be defined as a fore end wall or an end wall coinciding with the forward direction of vehicular traffic relative to fluid collection container  100 . End wall  132  may preferably be defined as a rear end wall or an end wall coinciding with the rearward direction of vehicular traffic relative to fluid collection container  100 . End walls  130  and  132  each preferably comprise an end wall bottom surface  174  as illustrated in FIG. No.  4 ; an end wall top surface  172  opposed to end wall bottom surface  174  as illustrated in FIG. No.  4 ; an end wall thickness; an end wall inside edge  176  as illustrated in FIG. No.  4 , and an end wall outside edge  178  as illustrated in FIG. No.  4 . Base sheet  138 , side walls  134  and  136 , and end walls  130  and  132  are bonded together to form fluid collection container  100 , which bonding procedure is described in more detail below. 
     Fluid collection container  100  is thus positioned in a preferred location as described atop a traffic lane surface adjacent the drive-up service point. In this regard, it is contemplated that fluid collection container  100  is designed to collect vehicular fluids, which emanate from a vehicle temporarily halted adjacent the drive-up service point, which vehicle is temporarily halted in superior relation to the fluid collection container. 
     “It will be further noted that container  100  is provided in an overall width which is narrower than an automobile&#39;s track, or distance between the centers of parallel wheels, allowing the wheels of the automobile to pass on either side of container  100  without contacting it. In the preferred embodiment, the overall width of container  100  is approximately 30 inches. However, it is well within the scope of the invention to provide a container having an overall width which is greater than 30 inches as long as it does not exceed the width of an automobile&#39;s track.” 
     In the preferred embodiment, container  100  is provided in an overall length of approximately 42 inches. This length accommodates variations in automobile size and design. It is, however, well within the scope of the invention to provide a fluid collection container having a slightly smaller or greater length. 
     Container  100  is preferably formed of a thermoplastic which was developed for use in pavement markings. This highly durable material is composed of an ester modified rosin in conjunction with aggregates, pigments, binders, and glass beads, which is impervious to oil and gasoline, which is resistant to degradation by automotive fluids, the environment, and road salt, and which has a surface which is skid resistant. The material is commercially available under the name Premark 20/20 Flex, and is fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,206. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, container  100  is formed from a plurality of components, all formed from the thermoplastic material described above, which are assembled during installation on traffic lane surface  20 . Application of heat via heat source  50 , where heat source  50  consists of a propane torch or an equivalent localized, manually directable heat source, to the individual components per the method described below bonds the container to traffic lane surface  20 , and bonds the individual components together, resulting in a unified, integrated, leak-proof fluid trap. 
     It is, however, well within the scope of this invention to provide the inventive fluid collection container as a single, preformed unit  200  as shown in FIG.  13 . This can be accomplished by pre-assembly, including thermally joining individual components, at an alternative location, or by molding container  200  as a single piece of thermoplastic material. If provided as a single, preformed unit, installation of container  200  would be simplified since on-site assembly would not be required. 
     In the preferred embodiment, container  100  is a shallow, rectangular basin, and consists of a rectangular base sheet, two side walls, and two end walls. However, it is within the scope of this invention to form container  100  in alternative shapes such as circular, oval, or polygonal. A rectangular container is preferred due to the ease of forming and assembling the individual components, but employment of alternative shapes may be considered to suit individual requirements, such as aesthetic considerations. 
     “Base sheet  138  is preferably formed of a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material and comprises a bottom surface  152 , a top surface  150  which is opposed to bottom surface  152  and separated from it by the thickness of base sheet  138 , peripheral edge  154 , and center  156 . Base sheet  138  comprises a longitudinal axis  158  which lies in the plane of base sheet  138  on the longitudinal midline, lies parallel to its length, and coincides with longitudinal axis  110  of container  100 , base sheet  138  further comprises transverse axis  160  which lies in the plane of base sheet  138  on its transverse midline, lies parallel to its width and perpendicular to longitudinal axis  158 , and coincides with transverse axis  115  of container  100 .” 
     In the preferred embodiment, base sheet  138  has the approximate dimensions of 24 inches in width by 36 inches in length with a thickness of ⅛ inch. However, these dimensions can be varied to accommodate larger or smaller fluid collection containers. Size of the fluid collection container can be modified to accommodate locations having greater or smaller traffic volume, and desired frequency of waste removal. 
     Side walls  134 ,  136  are each formed of an elongate rectangular strip of thermoplastic material, each rectangular strip comprising a bottom surface  164 , a top surface  162  which is opposed to side wall bottom surface  164  and separated from it by the thickness of the strip. Side walls  134 ,  136  are preferably rectangular in cross section, have an inside edge  166 , and an outside edge  168  which is spaced apart from the inside edge by the width of the strip. 
     Side walls  134 ,  136  are provided in a length which is two inches less than the length of base sheet  138 . Thus, in the preferred embodiment side walls  134 ,  136  have an approximate length of 34 inches. The approximate preferred width and depth are 4 inches and ⅛ inch, respectively. 
     End walls  130 ,  132  are each formed of an elongate rectangular strip of thermoplastic material, each rectangular strip comprising a bottom surface  174 , a top surface  172  which is opposed to end wall bottom surface  174  and separated from it by the thickness of the strip. End walls  130 ,  132  are preferably rectangular in cross section, have an inside edge  176 , and an outside edge  178  which is spaced apart from the inside edge by the width of the strip. 
     End walls  130 ,  132  are provided in a length which is six inches greater than the width of base sheet  138 . Thus, in the preferred embodiment end walls  130 ,  132  have an approximate length of 30 inches. The approximate preferred width and depth are 4 inches and ⅛ inch, respectively. 
     In colder climates, traffic lane surface  20  may be subjected to clearing of snow using snow plows. To prevent damage to container  100  by a snow plow blade, outside edges  178  of end walls  130 ,  132  may be provided with a downward taper, removing any stepwise discontinuity between the pavement and the fluid collection container, and allowing a plow blade to be smoothly lifted onto the top of container  100 . This taper is formed on the outside edges  178  of end wall  130 ,  132  by flattening the outside edges  178  toward traffic lane surface  20  with a blunt tool such as a putty knife while the thermoplastic is heated and pliable (FIG.  12 ). 
     In areas of high traffic volume, or in cases where waste removal from container  100  is infrequent, it may be necessary to provide a fluid collection container having increased depth. Depth of container  100  may be increased from ⅛″ to ¼ inch by insertion of elongate, narrow rectangular strips of thermoplastic material between base sheet  138  and each of the respective side walls  134 ,  136  and end wall  130 ,  132  (FIG.  6 ). In the preferred embodiment, these risers  140  are provided having a 1 inch width and ⅛ inch thickness, and have lengths which correspond to the respective lengths of the peripheral edges of base sheet  138 . Risers  140  are placed along the peripheral edges  154  of base sheet  138  so that the outer edges of risers  140  are vertically aligned with peripheral edge  154 . However, it is within the scope of the invention to increase the width of risers  140  so that the inner edges of risers  140  overlie the periphery of base sheet  138  and the outer edges of risers  140  extend beyond peripheral edge  154  of base sheet  138 . 
     Although drive up service points  10  are designed for access by automobile traffic, it is not unknown for pedestrians to use these facilities. Additionally, drive up service points  10  must be monitored and maintained by service persons who approach them on foot. Container  100  is provided with features which improve skid resistance and prevent the pedestrian from becoming soiled in the event that he/she steps into container  100  as they approach a drive up service point  10 . 
     The first such feature is skid resistance. The thermoplastic material used to form container  100  is embedded with glass beads so as to provide skid resistance. Material specifications require a minimum resistance value of 45 BPN when tested according to ASTM: E 303. 
     The second such feature is a baffled mat  146  (FIG. 7) which may be provided with container  100 . Mat  146  lies within the basin formed by side walls  134 ,  136  and end walls  130 ,  132 , and overlies base sheet  138 . Mat  146  is provided with the same thickness as side walls  134 ,  136  and end walls  130 ,  132  so that upper surface of mat  146  and the respective side and end walls form a level, planar surface for walking on, while the spaces between the baffles form a plurality of small “wells” which receive the leaked or spilled automotive fluids. Although only one baffle pattern is illustrated in the figures, it is understood that the baffles may be provided in a variety of patterns, including, but not limited to, longitudinal parallel baffles, transverse parallel baffles, concentric circular baffles, and intersecting diagonal baffles (diamond baffles). Mat  146  may be formed of thermoplastic material, or materials such as, but not limited to, metal. Alternatively, mat  146  may be formed of a sheet of thermoplastic material which has a pattern impressed upon it while softened by heating. 
     Fluid collection container  100 , consisting of base sheet  138 , side walls  134 ,  136 , and end walls  130 ,  132 , is assembled and bonded to traffic lane surface  20  as described in the following method steps: 
     1. Determine the location on the pavement where the fluid collection container is to be positioned. This location referred to as the application area, and is positioned relative to drive up service point  10  such that longitudinal centerline  110  of container  100  lies parallel to curb  30  and spaced apart from drive up service point  10  approximately 34 inches along a line which is normal  120  to drive up service point  10 . Transverse centerline  115  of container  100  is spaced apart from drive up service point  10  such that it lies ahead of, or beyond, drive up service point  10  approximately 34 inches with respect to the direction of traffic flow. This location positions container  100  approximately between the front wheels of the automobile, and beneath the engine and transmission of the automobile, when the driver of the automobile is accessing drive up service point  10 . 
     2. Clean and dry the application area. The application area is cleaned to remove all residues, including de-icing compounds such as salt, which could prevent proper adhesion of the oil and gas impervious base sheet to the pavement. Surface moisture is then removed from the application area by heating with a heat source such as a propane torch. This procedure prevents steam from forming between container  100  and traffic lane surface  20  as container  100  is thermally bonded to traffic lane surface  20  (step  4 ). 
     3. Position base sheet  138  in the application area so that the base sheet center overlies the center of the application area, and longitudinal axis  158  of base sheet  138  is parallel to the direction of traffic flow. 
     4. Apply heat to base sheet  138  using heat source  50 , such as a propane torch. Heat is applied until base sheet  138  is bonded to traffic lane surface  20  (FIG.  9 ). 
     5. Check bonding of base sheet  138  to traffic lane surface  20 . This is achieved by attempting to lift container  100  off lane surface  20  by inserting a spatula-type tool between container  100  and lane surface  20  and visually checking the adhesion. After cooling, adhesion integrity is checked by striking base sheet  138  with a chisel. If bonding is imperfect, repeat step  4 . 
     6. Position one of the side walls  134 ,  136  on each of the first and second sides of base sheet  138  such that the respective inside edges  166  of each side wall  134 ,  136  overlaps the peripheral side edge of base sheet  138 , and the respective outside edges  168  of each side wall  134 ,  136  overlies traffic lane surface  20  adjacent to the peripheral edge of base sheet  138  (FIG.  11 ). Preferably, the respective inside edges  166  of each side wall  134 ,  136  overlaps the peripheral side edge of base sheet  138  approximately one inch, so that approximately three inches of the side wall overlies traffic lane surface  20 . 
     7. Position one of the end walls  130 ,  132  on each of said first and second ends of base sheet  138  such that the respective inside edges  176  of each end wall  130 ,  132  overlaps the peripheral end edge of base sheet  138 , and the respective outside edges  176  of end walls  130 ,  132  overlies traffic lane surface  20  adjacent to the peripheral edge of base sheet  138 . Preferably, the respective inside edges  176  of each end wall  130 ,  132  overlaps the peripheral end edge of base sheet  138  approximately one inch, so that approximately three inches of the end wall overlies traffic lane surface  20 . 
     8. Apply heat to side walls  134 ,  136  and end walls  130 ,  132  using heat source  50 . Heat is applied until the respective inside edges  166 ,  176  of side walls  134 ,  136  and end walls  130 ,  132  are fused to base sheet  138  and each other to form an integrated, non-leaking, fluid impervious container, and until the respective outside edges  168 ,  178  of side walls  134 ,  136  and end walls  130 ,  132  are bonded to traffic lane surface  20 . 
     9. Check bonding of side walls  134 ,  136  and end walls  130 ,  132  to base sheet  138  and to traffic lane surface  20 . If bonding is imperfect, repeat step  8 . 
     In colder climates, traffic lane surface  20  may be subjected to clearing of snow using snow plows. To prevent damage to container  100  by a snow plow blade, outside edges  178  of end walls  130 ,  132  may be provided with a downward taper. In these climates, an additional method step is added immediately following method step  8  as follows: 
     Method step  8   a : Apply a downward pressure on the respective outside edges  178  of end walls  130 ,  132  while the thermoplastic material is hot and pliable so as to remove the upper corner of the outside edge (FIG.  12 ). 
     In areas of high traffic volume, or in cases where waste removal from container  100  is infrequent, it may be necessary to provide a fluid collection container having increased depth. When risers  140  are employed, the following two method steps are inserted after method step  5 : 
     Method step  5   a : Position the elongate narrow rectangular strips of thermoplastic material so as to overlie and confront the entire peripheral edge of the base sheet such that the outer edge of the elongate narrow rectangular strip is vertically aligned with the peripheral edge of the base sheet, and the inner edge of the elongate narrow rectangular strip overlies the body of the base sheet adjacent to the peripheral edge of the base sheet. 
     Method step  5   b : Apply heat to the elongate narrow rectangular strip using heat source  50 . Heat is applied until the elongate narrow rectangular strip is bonded to and integral with base sheet  138  (FIG.  10 ). 
     In the above description of the method of installing fluid container  100  on traffic lane surface  20 , it is understood that traffic lane surface  20  is formed of asphalt. However, it is well within the scope of this invention to employ fluid collection container  100  on surfaces formed of other materials, such as but not limited to cement. When installing fluid container  100  on cement, a surface sealer designed for sealing cement may be used to improve the adhesion of the thermoplastic material to the cement. Excellent results have been obtained when a commercially available sealant sold under the name “Pliobond” is used. The sealer acts to block moisture from coming up from the cement during the thermal bonding process, thus prevent steam formation between container  100  and traffic lane surface  20 . When installing fluid container  100  on cement, the following method step is inserted after method step  2 : 
     Method  2   a : Apply a cement sealer to traffic lane surface  20  about the entire application area. 
     While changes may be made in the detail construction and implementation of method within the skill of those knowlegeable in the art, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.