Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for protecting from freezing an above-ground conduit outlet on an exterior wall of a building, the freeze protection apparatus comprising a housing including a top wall, a front wall, and a pair of opposed side walls interconnecting the top wall and the front wall. The housing partially defines an enclosed area having a rear aperture and a bottom aperture. Thermal insulating material lines the interior surface of the walls of the housing. Means are provided for mounting the housing to the exterior wall adjacent the conduit outlet. The inner edges of the side walls and the top wall contact the exterior wall and the bottom edges of the side walls and the front wall contact the ground for enclosing the conduit outlet. Heat is retained within the housing to prevent fluid within the conduit from freezing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. provisional application No. 62/138,097, filed Mar. 25, 2015, entitled “HOUSING FOR DRAIN OUTLET”, naming Doug Banks as the inventor. The contents of the provisional application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and the benefit of the filing date of the provisional application is hereby claimed for all purposes that are legally served by such claim for the benefit of the filing date. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a housing for a drain outlet, and more particularly to a housing for a drain outlet for a condensing furnace. 
         [0003]    Condensing furnaces are gas fired furnaces having at least 90% annual fuel utilization efficiency. Condensing furnaces can produce from three to seven gallons of condensate fluid daily during the heat cycle. Drain lines carry the condensate fluid to the exterior of the house or dwelling holding the condensing furnace. Typically, the drain line outlet exits the house through the foundation. During cold weather, the fluid in the drain outlet is prone to freezing, especially when the cold weather is accompanied by windy conditions, which significantly contribute to increased “chill-factors” that initiate the condensate freezing process. 
         [0004]    Once the condensate fluid freezes at the exposed drain line outlet termination point, the furnace immediately shuts off. A service call would be needed at this time to thaw the drain line. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary fix as the drain line may freeze again. 
         [0005]    For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a housing for a drain outlet that will prevent freezing of the fluid passing from the drain outlet. Ideally, the housing will allow for relatively quick and easy installation or replacement. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An apparatus is provided for protecting from freezing an above-ground conduit outlet on an exterior wall of a building, the freeze protection apparatus comprising a housing adapted for covering the conduit outlet. The housing includes a top wall, a front wall, and a pair of opposed side walls interconnecting the top wall and the front wall. The housing partially defines an enclosed area having a rear aperture and a bottom aperture. Thermal insulating material lines the interior surface of the walls of the housing. Means are provided for mounting the housing to the exterior wall adjacent the conduit outlet, wherein the inner edges of the side walls and the top wall contact the exterior wall and the bottom edges of the side walls and the front wall contact the ground below the conduit outlet for enclosing the conduit outlet within an enclosed space defined by the housing, exterior wall and the ground. Heat is retained within the housing to prevent fluid within the conduit from freezing. 
         [0007]    An apparatus is provided for protecting from freezing an above-ground conduit outlet on an exterior wall of a building, the freeze protection apparatus comprising a housing adapted for covering the conduit outlet. The housing includes a top wall, a front wall, and a plurality of opposed side walls interconnecting the top wall and the front wall. The housing partially defines an enclosed area having a rear aperture and a bottom aperture. Thermal insulating material lines the interior surface of the walls of the housing. Means are provided for mounting the housing to the exterior wall adjacent the conduit outlet, wherein the inner edges of the side walls and the top wall contact the exterior wall and the bottom edges of the side walls and the front wall contact the ground below the conduit outlet for enclosing the conduit outlet within an enclosed space defined by the housing, exterior wall and the ground. Heat is retained within the housing to prevent fluid within the conduit from freezing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should now be had to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a housing for accommodating a drain outlet. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a bottom rear perspective view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a right side elevation view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1 , the left side view being a mirror image. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a transverse cross-section view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1  and taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a longitudinal cross-section view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1  and taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1  installed on an exterior wall over a drain outlet in a first open position and a second closed position shown in phantom. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1  installed on the exterior wall over the drain outlet as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, words such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “upward,” “transverse” and “downward” merely describe the configuration shown in the FIGS. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise. 
         [0021]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, an embodiment of a housing assembly for accommodating a drain outlet invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-7  and generally designated at  20 . The housing assembly  20  comprises a housing  22  for accommodating a drain outlet and means for removably securing the housing  22  to a supporting surface  25 , such as an exterior wall or foundation of a house. 
         [0022]    The housing  22  comprises a plurality of walls, including a right side wall  26  and a left side wall  28 , a front wall  30 , and a top wall  32  extending transversely between and interconnecting the side walls  26 ,  28  and the front wall  30 . The plurality of walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  extend generally continuously from their respective adjoining edges. In the configuration shown, the side walls  26 ,  28  taper outwardly from the top wall  32  to their distal edges. The housing  22  shown in  FIGS. 1-7  defines a rear opening  34  and a bottom opening  36 . 
         [0023]    The walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  may be a generally planar and may take on any shape, such as a substantially rectangular or rhomboid shape as shown. Preferably, the walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  are shaped so as to conform to the shape of the supporting surface  25  from which the housing  22  may be suspended. The walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  of the housing  22  may be fabricated from any material, including, but not limited to, any sheet metal, (e.g. steel, aluminum, galvanized metal, etc.), plastic, fiberglass, metal or any other type of rigid material. The material of the housing  22  should be able to withstand being hit, bumped or other damage typical around the house. While the housing  22  can be assembled by fastening the separate walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  to one another (e.g., as by welding, L-bracket, fasteners, etc.), the housing  22  may be a single integral sheet folded along fold lines. It is understood that the housing  22  may be of any appropriate dimension for accommodating the drain outlet. 
         [0024]    Each wall  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  includes an outwardly facing outer surface and an inwardly facing inner surface. The inner surfaces of the walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  at least partially define an interior chamber of the housing assembly  20 , which is further defined by the support surface  25  to which the housing  22  is mounted. A single layer of foam insulation board having an R-factor of about four lines the inner surface of each of the walls. The foam insulation panels can be attached to the interior surface of the walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  of the housing  22  using a standard, commercial-grade “brush-on” or “spray-on” construction adhesive. Other types of insulation may be used, including rotary liner insulation, attached with similar brush-on or spray-on aerosol adhesive or individual “weld-pins.” The type and thickness of the insulation, whether foam panel board, spray-on foam, or rotary liner, may be selected as is suitable for the geographical area in which the housing assembly  20  is being used. 
         [0025]    The mounting means  24  comprises side flanges  38 , extending perpendicularly outwardly from the rear edge of each of the side walls  26 ,  28  and a top flange  39  extending perpendicularly outwardly from the rear edge of the top wall  32 . Each flange  38 ,  39  may have one or more openings  41  for receiving a fastener  40 , e.g., bolts, rods, screws, hooks, nails, etc., for attaching the housing  22  to the support surface  25 . The openings  41  may be of any shape, such as a round hole, a keyhole slot, eyelet-shape, etc. 
         [0026]    The top flange may comprise a hinge  42  for connecting the housing  22  via the top wall  32  to the support surface  25 . One side of the hinge  42  is pivotally connected to a portion of the housing  22 . The other side of the hinge  42  is connected to the support surface  25  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ). The hinge  42  may be removeably fastened (e.g., by fasteners, screws, bolts, etc.) or may be permanently fixed (e.g., as by welding) to the top wall. Any of the side walls  26 ,  28  of the housing  22  may also comprise a hinge. It is understood that the mounting means  24 , as shown and described herein, is not limited to the embodiments. Any other suitable means may be used for attaching the housing  22  to the supporting structure, including magnets and the like. 
         [0027]    In use, the housing  22  is secured to a supporting structure  42  surrounding a drain outlet  44  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ). The housing assembly  20  is positioned with the rear opening of the housing  22  adjacent to the support surface  25  such that each flange  38 ,  39  of the mounting means  24  engages the support surface  25 . Fasteners  40  are inserted through the holes  41  in the flanges  38 ,  39  and into the support surface  25 , as shown. This effectively mounts the housing  22  to the support surface  25 , which abuts against the rear edges of the side walls  26 ,  28 , the top wall  30  and the flanges  38 . The housing  22  rests on the ground for further supporting the weight of the housing. The interior chamber defined between the surface of the supporting  25  surface and the inner surfaces of the walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  of the housing accommodates the drain outlet  44 . The extension of the side walls  26 ,  28  from the support surface  42  determines the depth of the interior chamber defined by the housing  22 . The internal space is large enough for receiving the drain outlet. As best seen in  FIG. 10  in phantom, the internal space is not accessible via the rear opening  35  or the bottom opening  36  of the housing  22 , the former being covered by the support surface  25  and the latter being closed to the ground ( FIG. 11 ). When the drain outlet  44  is covered, the fluid will run from the drain outlet  44  to the ground without risk of freezing under frigid conditions. Mounting the housing  22  around the drain outlet  44  provides an insulated internal space to protect the drain outlet  44  and minimize freezing of the draining fluid. The insulated walls capture some of the residual heat from the condensate itself. 
         [0028]    At any time, such as for maintenance, replacement, upgrades, etc., the housing  22  may be detached from the support surface  25  via the mounting means  24 , as previously described with regard to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Allowing the housing assembly  20  to be easily and quickly removed from the support surface  25  gives free access to the housing  22  of the drain outlet  44  for performing various operations after installation, such as performing repair work, upgrading systems or maintenance or replacing the housing altogether. 
         [0029]      FIG. 10  shows one drain outlet  44 ; however, it should be understood that the housing  24  may house more or less outlets than what is shown. In the embodiments shown, the drain outlet  44  is representative of a drain outlet for a condensing furnace. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the housing assembly  20  allows mulch to be placed over the top of the drain line, further restricting wind or extreme temps from accessing the drain outlet. The housing assembly  20  also prevents insects, such as wasps, from colonizing the end of the drain outlet, thus blocking the flow of condensate, and again cutting the HVAC system off. The housing assembly  20  also prevents rodents such as squirrels from gnawing away the exposed portion of the drain outline, which would allow the condensate to run into the exterior wall cavities rather than to the exterior. Protecting the (typically plastic and somewhat fragile) exposed drain outlet from damage from mowers, weed eating, and prevention of mulching and annual re-mulching from clogging up end of condensate drain outlet is also a benefit of the drain housing. 
         [0030]    Although the present invention has been shown and described in considerable detail with respect to only a few exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that it is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments since various modifications, omissions and additions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.