Leak detection and containment device

A leak detection and containment tray includes a solid bottom surface and perforated upper surface and a pair of metal plates separated by a unit of absorbent material that is conductive when wet. When the tray absorbs a liquid, an electrical connection is completed between the pair of metal plates thereby causing an audible alarm. An illumination device is also provided and illuminated when the electrical connection is completed. A switch is configured to permit selective use of the audio and/or visual alarm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of leak detection and more specifically to a leak detector and containment device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is perhaps no greater household disaster than water damage. Not only do the physical portions of the house such as walls, woodwork, drywall, carpeting, and the like get ruined, but personal belongings such as furniture, appliances and the like get destroyed as well. While water damage due to rain or flooded rivers is out of our control, those that result from leaking plumbing underneath sinks certainly something that should be controllable.

However, the problem is usually not in fixing the leak, but simply in becoming aware of it in the first place. Slow, systematic drips will work their way around sink cabinet contents, through bottom surfaces, onto the floor and down into lower floors of a structure for hours, days, or even weeks before it is noticed. During this time, a small nuisance can turn into major structural damage which becomes a major expense to repair and correct. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which water leaks under a sink can be monitored and alarmed to avoid the problems as described above. The development of the water leak containment and detection alerting device fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides for a water leak containment and detection alerting device which comprises a tray assembly, an electronics housing which has a face plate with a control switch, an indicator light, and an annunciator. The electronics housing is in electrical communication with the tray assembly. The water leak containment and detection alerting device also comprises a protective insert which has a plurality of apertures which are disposed on an interior of a waterproof pan and a user-replaceable battery powering the water leak containment and detection alerting device. The user-replaceable battery is disposed in an interior of the pan with a first electrode disposed at the bottom of the pan. The water leak containment and detection alerting device also comprises an indicator light and an annunciator providing one or more visual and audible warnings respectively with a plurality of unwanted water in the interior of the pan and a grille which is disposed on the face plate. The grille is aligned with the annunciator. The water leak containment and detection alerting device also comprises a control switch which has a three-position switch, a radio frequency connection generated by a plurality of internal components of the water leak containment and detection alerting device, an insulator which has the same dimensions as the first electrode and a second electrode which has a plurality of apertures to allow the unwanted water to infiltrate to the insulator underneath the second electrode. The second electrode has the same dimensions as the first electrode. A plurality of individual conductors are electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode via electrical connection.

The tray assembly may be a rubber or plastic waterproof tray. The electronic communication between the electronics housing and the tray assembly may be a two-conductor cable whose length may vary based upon the needs of the water leak containment and detection alerting device. The protective insert apertures may align directly with the apertures of the second electrode to allow any falling water to pass through. The pan may include the first electrode which is disposed on the bottom of the pan. The first electrode may be a solid conductive metal plate. The solid conductive metal plate may be made of material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, copper, or brass. The first electrode may be smaller than the bottom of the pan. The first electrode may be ¼ in. smaller than the bottom of the pan.

The three-position switch allows a user to select between an OFF position, an AUDIO AND VISUAL ALERT position, or a VISUAL ALERT position. The radio frequency connection may be used by a wireless device to provide indication of the unwanted water in the pan. The wireless device may provide remote indication of the water leak containment and detection alerting device in the immediate area of the water leak containment and detection alerting device. The wireless device may be selected from the group consisting of a personal mobile telephone, a personal computer, a tablet computer, or a key fob. The wireless device may provide remote indication of the water leak containment and detection alerting device anywhere in the world. The radio frequency connection may utilize a connection technology which is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi technology, cellular technology, proprietary technology, 433 MHz technology, 902-928 MHz technology, or 2.4 GHz technology.

The insulator may be made of porous and non-conductive material. The insulator may also be made of nylon mesh that would absorb, hold the unwanted water, and dry quickly. The second electrode may be a solid conductive metal plate. The solid conductive metal plate may be made of material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, copper, or brass.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

1. Description of the Invention

2. Detailed Description of the Figures

Referring now toFIG. 1, a perspective view of the water leak containment and detection alerting device10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The water leak containment and detection alerting device (herein also described as the “device”)10, generally has two (2) major components: a tray assembly15and an electronics housing20in electrical communication with features of the tray assembly15. The tray assembly15is envisioned to be a rubber or plastic waterproof tray. It is noted that the dimensions of the tray assembly15are not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. However, a typical unit is envisioned to be approximately eighteen inches (18 in.) long, twelve inches (12 in.) wide, and approximately one inch (1 in.) deep. A protective insert30with a plurality of apertures35is visible on the interior of a waterproof pan40. Additional description on the interior construction and operation of the tray assembly15will be provided hereinbelow.

Referring more clearly now toFIG. 5, the electronics housing20includes a face plate21having a control switch50, an indicator light55and an annunciator60. The electronics housing20is mounted to a sidewall of the pan40, preferably so the face plate21is flush with the outer surface thereof. The device10is powered by a user-replaceable battery65(not shown) on the interior of the pan40. The indicator light55and annunciator60provide visual and audible warnings respectively of the presence of unwanted water in the interior of the pan40. A grille61is located on the face plate21and aligned with the annunciator60. The control switch50is preferably a three-position switch providing a user the ability to select between an OFF position51, an AUDIO AND VISUAL ALERT position52, or a VISUAL ALERT position53. Additionally, a radio frequency (RF) connection70is generated by internal components of the device10and is used by a wireless device75to provide indication of unwanted water in the pan40. It is envisioned that the radio frequency (RF) connection70would utilize Bluetooth® technology, although other protocols including but not limited to Wi-Fi, cellular, proprietary, four hundred thirty-three megahertz (433 MHz), nine hundred two to nine hundred twenty-eight megahertz (902-928 MHz), and/or two-point-four gigahertz (2.4 GHz). As such, the exact protocol of the radio frequency (RF) connection70is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. Likewise, the wireless device75is envisioned to be a personal mobile telephone' however, other devices including, but not limited to: a personal computer, a tablet computer, a key fob, or the like may also be used, and as such, the exact configuration of the wireless device75is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. It is therefore summarized that the wireless device75will provide remote indication of the device10whether in the immediate area of the device10or anywhere in the world.

Referring next toFIG. 2, a sectional view of the device10, as seen along a line I-I, as shown inFIG. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. This view describes the components inside of the pan40. At the bottom of the pan40is a first electrode80. The first electrode80is envisioned as a solid conductive metal plate such as steel, aluminum, copper, brass, or the like. Its overall dimensions are just marginally smaller than that of the bottom of the pan40, ideally approximately one-quarter of an inch (¼ in.) less. The next upward component is that of an insulator85. The insulator85is the same dimensions as that of the first electrode80and would be made of porous, non-conductive material such as a nylon mesh that would absorb and hold water, but dry quickly. The next upward component is that of a second electrode90, with the same dimension as that of the first electrode80. It too would be made of a metal plate such as steel, aluminum, copper, brass, or the like, but would be provided with a plurality of apertures35to allow water to infiltrate to the insulator85and second electrode90. The uppermost layer is that of the protective insert30with a plurality of apertures35that align directly with the apertures35of the second electrode90to allow any falling water to pass through to the lower components as described above.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an exploded view of the device10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. This view discloses the first electrode80, the insulator85, the second electrode90, and the protective insert30in a separated state prior to being assembled along a placement path ‘p’95into the confines of a pan40. The electronic communication between the electronics housing20and the tray assembly15is preferably a two-conductor cable whose length may vary based upon the needs of the particular installation in which the device10is utilized. Individual conductors100are electrically connected to the first electrode80and the second electrode90via electrical connection105as shown. Further detail on the circuiting arrangement utilized with the electronics housing20will be provided herein below. The electrical connections105are envisioned to be screws and nuts, terminals, solder, brazing, or the like, depending on the material of construction of the first electrode80and second electrode90.

Referring next toFIG. 4, a perspective view of the device10, shown in a utilized state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The pan40with its interior components and the electronics housing20is placed in an area of potential water leakage110, here depicted as under a kitchen sink. Other areas of potential water leakage110include, but are not limited to: under bathroom sinks, under utility sinks, under water heaters, under dishwashers, or under washing machines. Due to its wide and varied useful applications, the area of potential water leakage110used with the device10is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. In this particular application under a kitchen sink, various under sink storage items115can be placed in the pan40, atop the protective insert30. This allows utilization of valuable under sink storage areas but retains the water containment and detection alerting properties of the device10from potential water leak sources120such as piping, valves, couplings, and the like. In a similar manner, should the device10be used with appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, or the like, said appliances can be directly located atop the protective insert30as well.

Referring toFIG. 6, an electrical block diagram of the device10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Power for the device10is provided by a battery65, located internal to the electronics housing20, which connects to a control circuit125comprised of either discrete logic or a Single Board Computer (SBC) such as an Arduino®, Raspberry Pi® or the like. The exact method of establishing the logic behind operation of the device10is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. Conductance signals between the first electrode80and second electrode90are carried on the individual conductors100to the control circuit125as an input. The control switch50allows for selection of an OFF position51, an AUDIO AND VISUAL ALERT position52, or a VISUAL ALERT position53also as an input to the control circuit125. Outputs are provided by the indicator light55and the annunciator60. It is envisioned that the annunciator60will provide an audible “chirp” at thirty second (30 sec.) intervals to conserve battery life. A transmitter circuit130and a transmitting antenna135provide for the generation of the radio frequency (RF) connection70as aforementioned described.

3. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the device10would be constructed in general accordance withFIG. 1throughFIG. 6. The user would procure the device10from conventional procurement channels such as home improvement stores, plumbing supply houses, discount stores, mail and internet sources or the like. Special attention would be paid to the overall size of the pan40as used with the device10as well as to any specialized applications such as use under a water heater or the like.

After procurement and prior to utilization, the device10would be prepared in the following manner: a battery65would be placed in the electronics housing20; synchronization (pairing) with a wireless device75(if used) would be performed; and overall operation of the device10tested and verified. Next, the pan40would be placed in an area of potential water leakage110. Any under sink storage items115could be placed on top in the case of under sink utilization; the control switch50would be placed in the AUDIO AND VISUAL ALERT52, or the VISUAL ALERT position53depending on desired alarm transmission based on the mode of operation. At this point in time, the device10is ready for utilization.

During utilization of the device10, the following procedure would be initiated: under normal usage without the presence of water leakage, no action is performed or necessary. Such usage may continue for months or years without change. However, upon the presence of water from a potential water leak sources120, said water will contact the protective insert30, penetrate through the protective insert30via its apertures35, contact the second electrode90, penetrate the second electrode90via its apertures35, penetrate the porous insulator85and contact the first electrode80, thus providing a signal path for the control circuit125to transmit the alarm. The alarm transmission would alert nearby occupants to the pending problem allowing for corrective action to occur.

After use of the device10, it is allowed to dry, either as a unit, or separated (as shown inFIG. 3) to allow for faster drying. The device10is then reconstructed as shown inFIG. 1and put into service as described above in a circular manner.