Leak detecting surface protector

A device comprised of impervious material, sloping back to front, for collecting leakage from plumbing fixtures and waste and supply lines that will protect the surface on which said device is installed on or built into, such as but not limited to sink cabinetry and flooring underneath, from damage with an area at the front of the liquid collection receptacle for leakage accumulation and leakage detection, as well as providing a horizontal support surface to maintain storage capabilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates in general to leak detection and more specifically, 
to a device comprised of impervious material for collecting leakage from 
plumbing fixtures and waste and supply lines that will protect the surface 
on which it is installed or built into, such as but not limited to sink 
cabinetry and flooring underneath, from damage with an area at the front 
of the liquid collection receptacle for accummulation and detection of 
leaks, as well as providing a horizontal support surface to maintain 
storage capabilities. 
Disclosure Document #293358 was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark 
Office, Oct. 11, 1991. 
2. Description of Related Art 
A problem commonly encountered with plumbing fixtures and garbage disposal 
drains is the failure of the water-tight seals and drain joints. Water and 
liquids may then leak onto the surfaces below. This type of leakage often 
goes on unnoticed for a length of time because of the recessed location of 
the pipes and the contents which are typically stored on the surface below 
said pipes which can obscure the visibility of the leak. Sometimes only a 
small quantity of liquid leaks from the pipes or drains and quickly 
penetrates into the surface below directly and/or seeps into crevices of 
the surfaces below, such as but not limited to sink cabinetry and 
flooring, so that even if the area were inspected periodically, there 
would be no visual signs of leakage. Over a period of time, the undetected 
leakage may cause considerable damage to surfaces and contents stored 
below, as well as the flooring underneath and possibly even damage to the 
building structures. The first signs of water and liquid leakage are often 
evident only after very costly damage has occurred causing considerable 
expenses to be incurred to repair the damage and replace structures. 
The device can also be used to locate which of the water pipes or waste 
pipes is leaking. The spaces between the plurality of fins provide 
passages for the collecting fluid to travel down the sloped surface to the 
trough or liquid accummulation area; therefore, any leakage will be 
isolated to a specific few passages by the fins making it easier to detect 
the source of the leak. 
The utility and spirit of the above prior art references, either 
individually or in combination, do not provide the novel utility and 
spirit of the elements of the present invention. The relevant references 
address only the leaking aspect while the present invention has added 
utility purposes. While these devices may be suitable for the particular 
purposes to which they address, they will not be as suitable for the 
purposes of this invention, as hereinafter will be described. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a device for collection and 
detection of leakage from plumbing fixtures and waste and supply lines. 
It is also an object of this invention to provide a device with a 
horizontal surface to preserve the storage capabilities of the surface on 
which it is installed or built into, such as, but not limited to, sink 
cabinetry. 
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device of 
impervious material to protect the surface on which it is installed or 
built into from damage caused by leakage. 
In order to accomplish leak collection and leak detection, the device is to 
be provided with a sloping surface, back to front, which terminates in a 
liquid accummulation area at the front of the device for ease of detecting 
said leakage. To accomplish the horizontal surface to preserve the storage 
capabilities, the device is to be provided with a plurality of level fins 
either integrated into the sloping surface or temporarily insertable and 
removable, or an open grate or grillwork supported above the sloping 
surface which is insertable and removable. This horizontal surface will 
provide a support surface for articles and containers typically placed on 
the original surface. As well, this horizontal surface, being elevated 
from the sloped surface, will provide said articles with protection from 
possible damage from leakage. For ease of installation and removal for 
cleaning, the present invention may be constructed in a plurality of 
segments or units that can be attached to each other. This will provide a 
flexibility of width dimensions. The device may also have the capability 
to be attached to the surface or adapted with a perimeter flange and a 
means of self support for a built-in installation. The liquid 
accummulation area at the front of the device may optionally be provided 
with a moisture sensor device to enhance the leakage detection object of 
the invention. The invention can also be used to locate which of the water 
pipes or waste pipes is leaking. The spaces between the plurality of fins 
provide passages for the collecting water to travel down the sloped 
surface to the trough or liquid accummulation area, therefore, any leak 
will be isolated to a specific location by the fins making it easier to 
locate the leak, in one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 
illustrate the preferred construction of a device or tray 1 made of 
impervious material, preferrably of plastic or rubber, in accordance with 
one embodiment of the present invention. The numeral 2 represents a 
sloping surface which slopes generally horizontal from back to front, to 
collect the leakage and direct it to a leak accummulation detection area 6 
at the front of the device 1. Encompassing and supported at the perimeter 
of the sloping surface 2 is a front wall 8, two side walls 10, and a back 
wall 12. There are reinforcing supports 14 integral with the underneath 
side of the sloping surface 2. A plurality of fins 5 having horizontal 
surfaces 4, project upwardly from the sloping surface 2, and arranged in a 
parallel pattern to one another on the sloping surface 2, thereby allowing 
any leakage to reach the sloping surface 2. The fins 5 provide a 
horizontal support surface installed on or built into the device 1 to 
maintain the storage capabilities of a cabinet that the device 1 is 
installed on or built into. There are notches 16 in the side walls 10 to 
receive U-shaped clips 18 to provide an attachment system for maintaining 
a flat horizontal surface when a plurality of devices 1 are joined 
together as shown in FIG. 1. Optionally, the device 1 can be attached to a 
surface by screws (not shown) in reinforced openings 20 which may be 
provided. Reinforced openings 20 may be located at the junction of front 
wall 8 and side walls 10 and mid points of back wall 12. 
Referring now to FIG. 6 which is similar to device 1 with a horizontal 
flange 22 added to front wall 8 and structural supports 14 notched to rest 
on cabinet structure support 24 for a built-in embodiment of the present 
invention which fits in a cabinet structure and replaces a cabinet floor. 
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 which show partial views of a vacuum formed 
plastic device 28 having side walls 10, an end wall 12 and a front wall 8 
(only side wall 10 and end wall 12 are shown), a plurality of fins 5 with 
horizontal surfaces 4, and sloping bottoms 2 between the fins 5. Integral 
with sloping bottom 2 are reinforcing supports 14. There is also a leak 
accummulation detection area 6 (not shown) similar to the accummulation 
detection area 6 at the front of the device 1. The molded plastic device 
28 is economically formed using a vacuum forming method well known in the 
plastics molding art. 
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 9, where there are no 
fins 5 or horizontal surfaces 4 on sloping surface 42. The device 40 has a 
separate horizontal open grate 44 with vertical supports 46 to support 
articles above as with device 1. There is a leak accummulation detection 
area 48 to collect any fluid leakage, visible through open grate 44. 
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10 where there are no 
fins 5 or horizontal surfaces 4 on sloping surface 56. Device 52 shows a 
built-in embodiment of the invention which fits within cabinet walls 58 
and replaces the cabinet floor of a cabinet structure. Shown are cabinet 
structural supports 50 and a tray device 52 of the invention. The device 
52 is similar to device 1 except there are flanges 54 which can be 
fastened to cabinet supports 50. The device 52 has a separate horizontal 
open grate 60 that is supported on flanges 54. There is also a leak 
accummulation detection area 62 similar to the accummulation detection 
area 6 at the front of the device 1 which is visible through the 
horizontal open grate 60. 
To use the tray device to detect which of the plumbing fixture lines is 
leaking, the device is placed in a cabinet housing a sink and its plumbing 
fixtures. The device is positioned either temporarily or permanently on 
cabinet supports used to house household cleaning supplies, etc., which is 
the more common area to find such items. When the device is positioned, 
the household supplies are returned to the cabinet, except they are now 
placed on the horizontal surface 4, above the sloping horizontal surface 
2. The sloping horizontal surface 2 collects any fluid leakage, and by 
gravity, the fluid runs down the sloping surface to the accummulation and 
detection area 6 where it collects. 
The device 1 being provided with fins 5 that are spaced along the sloping 
horizontal surface 2 to guide fluid leakage to accummulation and detection 
trough 6 has the further advantage of isolating which plumbing fixture is 
leaking. The leaking fluid drips onto the device 1 striking in a specific 
area, therefore, it is trapped between certain fins 5 and runs down a 
particular location on the sloping horizontal surface 2 to trough 6. A 
track of moisture is left on sloping surface 2 which points to the exact 
location of the leak. The use of the device 1 not only prevents damage to 
the cabinet surface, but it provides a quick and simple to use method of 
finding a fluid leak. 
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted 
to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with 
other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the 
structures. 
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of 
utility and may be employed without reference to other features and 
subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the 
claims. 
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without 
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter 
herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be 
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, 
it will be apparent that modifications and alterations may be made therein 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in 
the appended claims.