Abstract:
A metered pump system periodically pumps measured amounts of chemical or biological material into a septic or sewage system. The metered pump system includes a metered pump stand having a main panel with first and second sides, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. A pair of feet extends from the first side of the main panel near the bottom edge. An upper flange extends from the second side of the main panel near the top edge. A metered pump may be attached to the first side of the main panel. The upper flange of the metered pump stand is disposed above a portion of a material container that supplies chemical or biological material to the metered pump. The disclosed metered pump system is customizable by interchanging components while using the same metered pump stand.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/413,757, filed Nov. 15, 2010, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The invention generally relates to metered pump stands for metered pumps that periodically pump measured amounts of chemical or biological material into septic or sewage systems. 
     2. Related Technology 
     Certain systems require periodic additions of chemical or biological material to keep the systems running smoothly. For example, boiler systems, cooling towers, septic tanks, or other sewage systems, may require periodic additions of chemical or biological material to break down sewage in the system, or to clean fouling substances from pipes, so that the system continues to run smoothly. Similarly, plumbing systems, in particular drains in plumbing systems, may require periodic additions of chemical or biological materials to clear drains of blockages or build-ups. 
     Pumps and pumping devices have been developed that periodically meter a set amount of chemical or biological material into drains or sumps of septic or sewage systems. These pumps are connected to a supply of chemical or biological material. The pumps generally include an internal timer, a power source (e.g., battery or A/C power from an outlet), a processor, and an input device (such as a keyboard, a touchscreen, an input button, a data port, etc.). A user may program the pump with a material addition schedule by which the pump periodically or regularly adds chemical or biological material to the septic or sewage system. One example of such a pumping system is the United 757 NEEM-BAC Gelled Drain Treatment System produced by United Laboratories Inc. The United 757 NEEM-BAC system injects several bacterial strains and Neem oil in a gelled formulation that provides the bacteria sufficient surface contact time to implant into build-up found in drains. The bacteria work to eliminate the build-up by degrading organic solids, proteins, starch, cellulose and grease. 
     Known pumps or pumping devices are usually permanently mounted to a wall or other structure in a conventional way, such as by using fasteners, wall anchors, etc. An input of the pump is then connected to a source of chemical or biological material and an output of the pump is connected to a drain, sump, or pipe in a septic or sewage system. Because the pump is permanently mounted in a specific location, the source of chemical or biological material must be located in proximity to the pump. Known sources of chemical or biological material are usually stored in bulk containers, such as deltangular containers, which come in many sizes, for example six gallon sizes. 
     Permanently mounted pumps are not easy to relocate. The permanently mounted pump must first be removed from the wall or other support. Next, new holes must be drilled in the new location. Additional mounting hardware may also be required. 
     Recently, pumps have been mounted directly to the bulk containers of the chemical or biological material to save space. Pumps mounted to the bulk container often result in a pump/container configuration that is large or awkwardly shaped. In other words, the container mounted pumps often do not fit well into locations near drains or sumps, which are often spatially limited. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A metered pump system includes a metered pump stand having a main panel with first and second sides, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. A pair of feet extends from the first side of the main panel near the bottom edge. An upper flange extends from the second side of the main panel near the top edge. A metered pump may be attached to the first side of the main panel. A material container for supplying chemical or biological material to the metered pump may be located proximate the second surface of the main panel. The disclosed metered pump system is customizable by interchanging components while using the same metered pump stand. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a metered pump system installed near a typical septic system sump, the metered pump system including a metered pump stand, a metered pump, and a material container. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the metered pump stand of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the metered pump stand of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the metered pump stand of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the metered pump stand of  FIG. 1  with a metered pump attached to a front surface of the metered pump stand. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the metered pump stand of  FIG. 5  including a container proximate a back surface of the metered pump stand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a metered pump system  10  connected to a sump  100  of a septic system. The metered pump system  10  includes a metered pump stand  20 , a metered pump  60 , and a material container  80 . An input  61  of the metered pump  60  is connected to a chemical or biological material within the material container  80  while an output  63  of the metered pump  60  is connected to the sump  100 . The metered pump  60  periodically pumps a measured amount of chemical or biological material from the material container  80  into the sump  100 . An empty container  80  may be quickly and easily replaced with a full container  80 . Other plumbing fixtures, such as a sink  110 , for example, may be located in proximity to the sump  100  and connected to the sump  100  via one or more drain pipes  112 . The metered pump system  10  advantageously fits underneath the sink  110  to save space. Moreover, the metered pump system  10  is easily movable and may be repositioned based upon special considerations or other factors. Furthermore, the metered pump system  10  may be connected to the drain pipe  112  in addition to the septic sump  100 , if desired. 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the metered pump stand  20  in more detail. The metered pump stand  20  includes a main panel  22  having a front or first surface  24  and a back or second surface  26  opposite the first surface  24 . The main panel  22  may also includes a bottom edge  25 , a top edge  27 , and a pair of side edges  29 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-4 , the main panel  22  takes on a roughly rectangular shape. However, other embodiments may have other shapes, such as, for example, square, circular, triangular, oval, polygonal, etc., based on spatial considerations or other factors. 
     The metered pump stand  20  has a pair of feet  28  extending outwardly from the first surface  24 , near the bottom edge  25 . Other embodiments may have more or less than two feet. For example, other embodiments may have one, three, four, five, or more feet. The feet  28  in this embodiment are generally rectangular in shape having a length that is greater than a height. However, other embodiments of the metered pump stand  20  may have feet  28  with other shapes, or other relative dimensions. For example, other embodiments may have feet  28  that have a height that is greater than a length, or the feet  28  may be triangular in shape. Regardless of size or shape, the feet  28  stabilize the metered pump stand and counter any moment created by the weight of the metered pump  60  when the metered pump  60  is mounted on the first surface  24 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     A pair of guide rails  30  extends outwardly from the first surface  24  along the side edges  29 . The guide rails  30  may be integral with the feet  28 , as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 . However, other embodiments may include guide rails  30  that are separated from the feet  28 . Still other embodiments may not have guide rails  30 . Regardless, the guide rails  30  of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4  help position the metered pump  60  on the first surface  24  by guiding the metered pump  60  into a correct mounting position. Additionally, the guide rails  30  may at least partially protect the metered pump  60  from impact damage, especially when moving the metered pump stand  20 , or when changing the material container  80 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-4 , the guide rails  30  do not extend completely to the upper edge  27  of the main panel  22 . However, other embodiments may include guide rails  30  that extend completely to the upper edge  27 , or the guide rails  30  may terminate at any point between the feet  28  and the upper edge  27 . 
     An upper flange  32  extends outwardly from the second surface  26  near the upper edge  27  of the main panel  22 . The upper flange  32  may include an opening  34  that is sized to receive a spout or mouth  86  (see  FIG. 6 ) of the material container  80 . When the metered pump stand  20  is attached to a material container  80 , the mouth  86  of the material container  80  extends through the opening  34  and the opening  34  stabilizes the metered pump stand  20  with respect to the material container  80  while allowing an input of the metered pump  60  to access material in the material container  80  through the mouth  86  of the material container  80 . The moment created by the weight of the upper flange  32  when the metered pump stand  20  is standing freely is countered by the moment created by the feet  28 . The feet  28  extend outwardly farther from the first surface  24  than the upper flange extends outwardly from the rear surface  26 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-4 , the feet  28  extend approximately twice as far from the first surface  24  as the upper flange  32  extends from the second surface  26 . In other embodiments, a single foot may extend outwardly from the first surface  24  at the bottom edge  25  in a mirror image of the upper flange  32 . 
     The first surface  24  also includes one or more mounting structures, such as a mounting pin  36 . The mounting pin  36  may fit into a complementary recess in a rear side of the metered pump  60  when the metered pump  60  is mounted on the metered pump stand  20 . Other mounting structures are possible in other embodiments of the metered pump stand  20 . For example, other embodiments may use mounting shelves, mounting fasteners, mounting hooks, etc. However, the mounting structures should releasably secure the metered pump  60  to the first surface  24 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a metered pump  60  is illustrated attached to the metered pump stand  20 . The metered pump  60  includes a pump body  62  having a front surface  64 , a back surface  66 , a top surface  68 , a bottom surface  70 , and two side surfaces  72 . The pump body  62  in this embodiment takes on a cubic shape. Other embodiments may have pump bodies of different shapes. For example, other embodiments may have pump bodies  62  that are rectangular cubes, circular, oval, and irregular shapes. 
     The metered pump  60  also includes an input device, such as a timer  74 , by which a user may program a specific pumping schedule. For example, a user may set the timer  74  to pump a metered amount of material into the septic system every two days. Other pumping schedules are possible depending on the needs of the particular system. The pump body  62  also includes a power switch  76  to turn the metered pump  60  on or off. A material input/output hose  78  is connected to a source of material in the material container  80  at one end, and the sump  100  or drain  112  at the other end. The metered pump  60  draws chemical or biological material in from the material container  80  through an input hose and pumps the chemical or biological material into the sump or drain through an output hose. The input and output hoses may be flexible hoses made of plastic or rubber, or the input and output hoses may be more rigid hoses made of PVC or metal, for example. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a metered pump system comprising a metered pump stand  20  with a metered pump  60  mounted on the first surface  24  and a material container  80  located proximate the second surface  26 . The material container  80  includes a container body  82 , a handle  84 , and an opening or spout  86 . The container body  28  may be generally cube-shaped in this embodiment. However, other shapes are possible in other embodiments. For example, other embodiments may have cylindrical, spherical, pyramid, cone, or parallelepiped shaped container bodies  82 . Regardless, the upper flange  32  of the metered pump stand  20  may rest on top of a ledge  88  in the material container. The spout  86  of the material container may extend through the opening  34  in the upper flange  32  to further stabilize and support the metered pump stand  20 . Although not illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a securing nut may be threadably engaged with the spout  86  to sandwich the flange  32  between the securing nut and the ledge  88  if desired. 
     The disclosed metered pump stands and systems advantageously provide greater spatial flexibility and portability over prior art metered pump systems. Moreover, the disclosed metered pump stands and systems may be easily customized to particular septic or sewer systems. For example, different metered pumps and/or material containers may be interchanged with one another to provide different capabilities while using a common metered pump stand. 
     Although certain metered pump stands and metered pump systems have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of the appended claims is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the claims cover all embodiments of the teachings of this disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.