Abstract:
A pipe cap and methods for using the pipe cap are provided. The invention includes a pipe cap, which can include a body having one or more openings disposed therein. The pipe cap can also include a connector, and the connector can be configured to connect to a drain pipe. The pipe cap can be configured to prevent insects and animals from entering and clogging fluid drainage systems, e.g., HVAC systems.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the general field of building construction. More specifically, this invention relates to the field of piping and the flow of fluid (air, water, etc.) from a building through a piping or vented system. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    This invention relates to protection of piping or other fluid flow systems in residential and commercial building structures. For example, this invention can relate to a residential or commercial air conditioning systems used to produce cold air, condensation builds up in the system and drains through a series of tubes to an outlet located on the buildings exterior. Most drain pipe systems are comprised of copper or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) piping. Most common, a draining system is connected to a unit condenser, where the draining system is used to remove water that is regularly produced during operation of the air conditioning through the condensation process. 
         [0003]    A condenser in an HVAC system usually includes an inside unit containing a cold evaporator coil designed to cool air as the air passes over the coils. Condensation, water droplets, form on the evaporator coils, and the condensation collects by dripping off of the coils and into a drain pan. 
         [0004]    The liquid (e.g., water) produced from the condensation is often in such quantities that it must be constantly removed, and often is drained through a pipe which transports the water from the point of condensation to a terminal pipe, or drainage pipe, protruding from the side of the building, whereby the water runs freely out of the end of the pipe. Problems often occur, however, with an open ended pipe protruding from the building. For example, small insects and animals are able to enter the pipe and build nests or otherwise cause the piping to be clogged. A clogged pipe can cause thousands of dollars in damage due to backed up water. Current unclogging techniques include the use of highly concentrated chemical washes as well as plumbing snakes and augers, each of which can be difficult to perform and harmful to the water draining system. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a device to prevent clogging in fluid drainage systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A pipe cap is designed for use in water drainage systems used in residential and commercial buildings. For example, the pipe cap is helpful to prevent problems in the condensate drainage system of a building&#39;s HVAC system (otherwise known as the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system). These problems may include clogging of the drainage system due to insects and/or small animals entering the drainage system, often through an open ended pipe (referred to herein as the “drain pipe”) at a point external to the building, and clogging the system. To prevent these and other clogging problems from occurring, a pipe cap may be used to allow water to continue to flow out of the drainage pipe while simultaneously preventing insects and animals from entering the drain pipe. 
         [0007]    The pipe cap can have an elongated body with a first end and a second end. The body of the pipe cap can be generally cylindrical and configured to connect to a pipe end or hosing end or draining terminus. The first end of the pipe cap can include a cap terminus face that includes one or more holes disposed therethrough so that a fluid can pass through the cap terminus while larger solids are blocked from passage. The pipe cap offers a plurality of advantages to current drainage systems. For example, by letting fluid flow through the pipe cap in a first direction, the cap terminus of the pipe cap can keep solids from traveling through the pipe cap in either direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a pipe cap, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of a pipe cap, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a front side view of a pipe cap, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  depicts a side view of a pipe cap and a channel having a flange, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  depicts a side view of a pipe cap connected to a channel having a flange, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts a building overhang, a channel having a flange, and a pipe cap, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts a building overhang, a channel, and a pipe cap, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  depicts a building overhang having a plurality of drain pipes protruding therefrom, with a single pipe cap connected to each drain pipe according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  depicts a side view of a pipe cap, according to one or more embodiments described. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  depicts a cross-sectional view of a pipe cap connected to a drain pipe, according to one or more embodiments described. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    A design and method for using a pipe cap  100  is provided. A pipe cap  100  is designed for use in water drainage systems used, at least, in residential and commercial buildings. The pipe cap can have a main body  101  having a first end  103  and a second end  105 . The main body  101  can have an elongated shape. The main body  101  can have a shape generally or exactly reflecting a cylinder, a rectangular prism, a cube, a pyramid, a cone, a hexagonal prism, a hexagonal cone, and/or a sphere. 
         [0019]    The pipe cap  100  can include a face  107  disposed about the first end  103 . The first end  103  and/or the face  107  can include one or more openings  111 . The one or more openings  111  can otherwise be referred to as “hole(s)” when appropriate. The opening  111  can vary in size and shape. For example, the opening  111  can be square, circular, rectangular, triangular, or any combination thereof. In another example, the one or more openings  111  can be circular in shape having a diameter of about 1 millimeter, about 2 millimeters, about 3 millimeters, about 4 millimeters, about 5 millimeters, about 6 millimeters, about 7 millimeters, about 8 millimeters, about 9 millimeters, or about 10 millimeters. In another example, the opening can have a diameter of about 1 inch, about 2 inches, about 3 inches, about 4 inches, about 5 inches, about 6 inches, about 7 inches, about 8 inches, about 9 inches, or about 10 inches. 
         [0020]    The pipe cap  100  can include one or more openings  111 , two or more openings  111 , three or more openings  111 , four or more openings  111 , five or more openings  111 , six or more openings  111 , seven or more openings  111 , eight or more openings  111 , nine or more openings  111 , ten or more openings  111 , eleven or more openings  111 , twelve or more openings  111 , thirteen or more openings  111 , fourteen or more openings  111 , fifteen or more openings  111 , sixteen or more openings  111 , or seventeen or more openings  111 . 
         [0021]    In one or more embodiments, the face  107  can include a pattern of one or more openings  111  sufficient to prevent solid objects from traveling through the openings  111 . Accordingly, the size of the one or more openings  111  can be varied for the prevention of these solid objects from passing through the face  107  and/or the first end  103 . For example, the openings  111  can be sized to allow small grains of sand to pass through but block the passage of pebbles and/or rocks. In another example, the one or more openings  111  can be sized to allow a flea to pass through but block the passage of a dirt-dauber or wasp. 
         [0022]    The one or more openings  111  can be disposed through the main body  101  of the pipe cap  100 . The one or more openings  111  can be disposed through the walls of the main body  101  at or about the first end  103 , at or about the second end  105 , at or about the face  107 , or any combination thereof. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the one or more openings  111  can be disposed through the walls of the main body  101  at or near the first end  103  of the pipe cap  100 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a pipe cap  200  can include a main body  201  having a first end  203  and a second end  205 , and the second end  205  of the pipe cap  200  can be configured to connect to a pipe or piping structure. The pipe cap  200  can include a face  207  disposed at or about the first end  203 , and one or more openings can be disposed therethrough. 
         [0024]    The main body  201  can include a connector  223  disposed about the second end  205  of the main body  201 . The connector  223  can be configured to connect or otherwise attach the pipe cap  200  to a drain pipe (not shown). The connector  223  can be a threaded and/or “male” connector configured to connect to a threaded and/or “female” receptacle. Alternatively, the connector  223  can be a threaded and/or female receptacle configured to connect to a threaded and/or “male” connector. One or more ridges  209  can be disposed on the main body  201  of the pipe cap  200  to allow a user to more easily handle the pipe cap  200 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts a front side view of a pipe cap  300 . One or more openings  311  can be disposed on a face  307  of the pipe cap. As shown, the openings  311  can be collectively arranged in a circular pattern on the face  307  of the pipe cap  300 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , at least one embodiment of a pipe cap  400  can be threadably connected to or otherwise attached to a conduit  431 . Specifically, the pipe cap  400  can be connected to the conduit  431  by axially rotating the pipe cap  400  such that the threads of the pipe cap connector  423  interlock with the threads of the conduit  431 . The conduit  431  can include a flange  435  having a channel  437  disposed therethrough. In at least one embodiment, the channel  437  can include a hole disposed through the flange  435 , including a hole disposed through the flange  435  at the center of the flange  435 . In at least one other embodiment, the channel  437  can include a piece of tubing or pipe extending outward from the flange  435 , and such protruding piece can be configured to attached or connect to the pipe cap  400  (as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B ). A portion of the channel  437  can be threaded, glued, or otherwise permanently or temporarily attached to the pipe cap  400 . 
         [0027]    Drainage pipes are often found protruding through an outer wall of a building or structure. Most common, such a drainage pipe protrudes from the side of the building or from an overhang portion of a roof by several inches, so that fluid may drain out of the building without causing damage or staining to the outer wall of the building. In some situations, though, the water drainage pipe is flush with the side of the building or overhang portion of the roof, wherein the pipe cap can be attached to the drainage pipe at a position interior to the outer wall. In some circumstances, it may be more beneficial to connect an extension conduit onto the drainage pipe and then connect the pipe cap to the extension conduit. In some circumstances, the drainage pipe may not be threaded and configured to connect to a threaded connector on the pipe cap. To remedy this, a conduit may be used, attaching a first end of the conduit to the drain pipe and attaching a second end of the conduit that is threaded to the threaded connector of the pipe cap. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pipe cap  500  can be configured to attach to the conduit  531  having a flange  533 , and the conduit  531  can be configured to attach to the drainage pipe  545 . In this configuration, and those like it, the flange  533  of the conduit  531  can be used to secure and stabilize the pipe cap  500 . For example, the flange  533  can be secured to the overhang  503  portion of a roof  501  by nailing, screwing, or otherwise securing the flange  533  to the overhang  503 . The conduit  531  can include a flange  533  having a channel  535  disposed therethrough. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  depicts an adapter conduit  641  used to attach the pipe cap  600  to the terminal end of the drainage pipe  645 . The drainage pipe  645  can protrude from the overhang  603  of a roof  601  (as shown). It is not always the case that the end of the drainage pipe is configured to attach to the pipe cap. For example, the connector of the pipe cap  600  may be of a different size or configuration than the end of the drainage pipe. In such cases, an adapter conduit  641 , can be used to connect the pipe cap  600  to the drainage pipe  645 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , one or more drainage pipes  745 ,  747  can protrude from a building structure at the overhang  703  of a roof  701  and/or through a side wall  705  of the building structure. A first pipe cap  700  can be connected or otherwise attached directly to a first drainage pipe  745  that is protruding from the overhang  703  portion of a roof  701 . A second pipe cap  710  can be connected or otherwise attached directly to a second drainage pipe  747  protruding from the sidewall  705  of the building structure. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of a pipe cap  800 . One or more openings  811   a,    811   b  can be disposed through the walls of the pipe cap  800 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , one or more openings  811   b  can be disposed through the side walls or main body  801  of the pipe cap  800  and one or more openings  811   a  can be disposed through the face  807  of the pipe cap  800 . The openings  811   a,    811   b  can be elongated in shape. The openings  811   a,    811   b  can vary in shape from one another. The openings  811   a,    811   b  can be configured to allow maximum drainage through the pipe cap  800  while adequately preventing insects and rodents from passing through the openings  811   a,    811   b.    
         [0032]      FIG. 9  depicts a cross-section view of a pipe cap  900  disposed on a drainage pipe  945 . A method for using the pipe cap  900  can include connecting to or otherwise disposing on to the drainage pipe  945  by tightly fitting the pipe cap  900  onto the drainage pipe  945 . In at least one other embodiment, the pipe cap  900  can be connected to the drainage pipe  945  via glue, paste, rubber cement, PVC adhesive, or any other adhesive. Once the pipe cap  900  is connected to the drainage pipe  945 , fluid (eg., condensate fluid, water) can be directed from the condenser coils of an HVAC system, through the drainage pipe  945 , and then through the pipe cap  900 . The pipe cap  900 , by way of the openings  911  disposed through a portion thereof, can be used to prevent large solid items from passing into and/or out of the drain pipe  945 . 
         [0033]    The piping cap can be made of copper, steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), carbon steel (galvanized or non-galvanized), impact tested carbon steel, low temperature services carbon steel, stainless steel, malleable iron, non-ferrous metals, non-metallic composites (e.g., ABS, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), PVC, HDPE, tempered glass), alloy steel, a variety of plastic composites, or any combination thereof. 
         [0034]    Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set of numerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should be appreciated that ranges from any lower limit to any upper limit are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lower limits, upper limits and ranges may appear in one or more claims below. All numerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, and take into account numerical error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0035]    Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. 
         [0036]    While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow. Moreover, an ordinary person having skill in the art should understand that this invention is applicable in a many types of drainage systems, and the invention is not limited to a condenser drainage system.