Abstract:
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and system to conserve resources, particularly rain water, by providing for water storage within building walls and other structural components. The building water storage allows reuse of water at that location that in the past has generally flowed to storm drains as runoff. Besides allowing reuse, another advantageous effect is that the structure may become a well insulated unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/590,844 filed Jul. 23, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to storing water inside buildings. More particularly, the invention relates to creating and using a water holding capacity inside building walls, columns, and other structural components.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Protection, in the form of a constructed environment from the elements, is a basic requirement for all living organisms. As our communities have grown, modern construction methods fail to accurately incorporate the use of natural elements into our architecture.  
         [0006]     With water quality declining from synthetic chemical use and potable chemicalization, rain water harvesting has become a useful tool to store water for potable and non-potable use. Due to the weight of water contained in a single or multiple stand alone vessels, structural cisterns are not practical for large scale rainwater reuse, such as in a high-rise building. Additionally, space of a single or multiple stand alone vessels is an issue in some of the single family buildings, such as zero lot line homes.  
         [0007]     Therefore, there remains a need for an improved storage of water inside a structural component of a building and subsequent reuse therefrom.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention generally provides a method, apparatus, and system to conserve resources, particularly rain water, by providing for water storage within building walls and other structural components. The building water storage allows reuse of water at that location that in the past has generally flowed to storm drains as runoff. Besides allowing reuse, another advantageous effect is that the structure may become a well insulated unit.  
         [0009]     In one aspect, a catchment system for use in a building is provided. The catchment system includes a plurality of storage units operatively attached to structural members in the building, wherein the storage units are interconnected. The catchment system further includes an inlet in fluid communication with each storage unit and an outlet in fluid communication with each storage unit. The catchment system also includes a water source in fluid communication with the inlet.  
         [0010]     In another aspect, a catchment system for harvesting, storing, and distributing rain water in a building is provided. The catchment system includes a plurality of storage units operatively attached to structural members in the building, wherein each storage unit is interconnected with another storage unit. The catchment system further includes an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with each storage unit. Additionally, the catchment system includes a pump system for circulating the rain water.  
         [0011]     In yet another aspect, a method of utilizing rain water in building is provided. The method includes collecting rain water from around the building and filtering the rain water. The method also includes redirecting the rain water to a catchment system disposed in the structure of the building, wherein the catchment system comprising a plurality of storage units, an inlet, and an outlet. The method further includes storing a portion of the rain water in the building and distributing a portion of the rain water in the building.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a building with a catchment system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a portion of the catchment system in a wall of the building.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a storage unit in a structural column.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate the storage unit in a structural column with reinforcing bar bracing.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the storage unit in the structural column.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a storage unit in roof support structures of the building.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates the catchment system with ceiling storage units and wall storage units.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a view illustrating the catchment system in a building  20  with a green roof.  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a view illustrating the catchment system in a multi-story building with the green roof.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating the catchment system in a building with the green roof and a pool.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a view illustrating the catchment system in a multi-story building with a plurality of green roofs. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     The present invention is generally directed to a method and apparatus for storing water inside a structural component of a building. Various terms as used herein are defined below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term, as reflected in printed publications and issued patents. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same number indicator. The drawings may be, but are not necessarily, to scale, and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art of water storage systems will appreciate that the embodiments of the invention can and may be used in various types of structures, such as single family building, garages, or a high-rise building.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a building  10  with a catchment system  100  in accordance with the present invention. Generally, the catchment system  100  is used to catch water, store the water in a structural component of the building  10  and subsequently release the water for reuse. The catchment system  100  may include waterproofed concrete walls, water holding elements, such as pipes made from PVC, copper, and other tubular materials, structural leak proof containers, and so forth. For ease of explanation, the invention will be described generally as it relates to a single building structure and a high-rise building. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be employed in any number of building structures without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0026]     As shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the building  10  includes a roof  60  and gutters  70 . The gutters  70  are connected to the catchment system  100  by flow members  80 . Generally, water, such as rain water, from the roof  60  and gutters  70  is redirected into the catchment system  100  within the building walls. Additionally, a secondary water source (not shown), such as city or well water, could be employed to supply water to the catchment system  100 . The secondary water source typically includes a backflow to prevent cross connect.  
         [0027]     An entrance to the water catchment system  100  could be fitted with a first flush by-pass to allow a percentage of water and solids, such as the first 10%, to be applied to the exterior landscape. Further, a Y-strainer (not shown) on an incoming water line could be incorporated and used as a flush device for clean out purposes.  
         [0028]     An overflow outlet (not shown) and/or a scupper could be located proximate the top of the water catchment system  100  for overflow needs. In one embodiment, the overflow outlet is a pressure compensating valve constructed to allow for overflow water to pass from the water catchment system  100 . Additionally, a clean out line  110  could be located proximate the bottom of the water catchment system  100  for ease of cleaning and maintenance. In one embodiment, the clean out line includes a standard ball valve, manual, or automatic valve for use in flushing and cleaning out the water catchment system  100 . Optionally, a hose bib attachment  115  can be located at the exterior of the building  10 .  
         [0029]     The catchment system  100  may utilize a pumping system (not shown), such as a reverse osmosis system and/or an ozonation system and/or a sump pump, to provide clean fresh recirculation water within the building walls. This may help avoid buildup of materials and resolve mold issues, because mold grows in stagnant environments. The pumping system may be located within the building wall or as an external unit.  
         [0030]     Potable water in the catchment system  100  could be available for various habitable or structural needs based on the architectural design. For instance, hot water heaters can be optional with in-line heating elements located on the tap line for each hot water spigot. Some locations could include the kitchen, bath, and clothes washer areas. Further, fire safety sprinkler systems in one or more rooms, such as in new construction, could be tapped from the catchment system  100  to provide fire protection in fire prone areas to lessen the need for municipal service assistance. Additionally, irrigation for a green roof (plants on top of a roof) or landscape applications may be tapped into the catchment system  100 . This technology may create a substantial reduction in utility bills with respect to potable water and heating and cooling of a building.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a portion of the catchment system  100  in a wall of the building  10 . As shown, a plurality of storage units  125  is disposed within a wall of the building  10 . The storage units  125  are attached and supported to the existing wall components, such as steel beams or studs. The storage units  125  are interconnected by at least one connection line  120 . In one embodiment, the storage units  125  are PVC pipe. In between the storage units  125  and the frame construction, insulation may be blown or laid. Building architecture may include water holding capacity for a 2 year, 100 year, or 500 year design storm.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 3-6  illustrate the storage unit  125  in the various frame structures of the building  10 . For instance,  FIG. 3  illustrates the storage unit  125  in a structural column  130 . Typically, the structural column  130  is an insulated waterproofed wall member with a structural reinforcing bar. The structural column  130  may be cast in place or poured in place. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the storage unit  125  may be connected to an interior tap  135  for use with interior water components, such as a washing machine and/or a water heater. In another embodiment, the storage unit  125  may be connected to the clean out line  110  and the hose bib attachment  115  as discussed above.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates the storage unit  125  in a structural column  140  with reinforcing bar bracing  145 . In this embodiment, the reinforcing bar bracing  145  and the structural column  140  are used to support the storage unit  125 . As shown, the storage unit  125  may include an optional fire sprinkler  155  outlet to provide fire protection in fire prone areas to lessen the need for municipal service assistance. The storage unit  125  may also include water inlet  160  at an end thereof for connection to a water source or another water storage unit. In another embodiment, a truss arrangement could be used in place of the column  140  and the bar bracing  145 . In this embodiment, utility lines, such as gas, electric and cable lines, could be run in the truss arrangement.  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates the storage unit  125  in the structural column  140  with reinforcing bar bracing  145 . In this embodiment, the storage unit  125  is connected to a utility conduit  165  to allow water in the storage unit  125  to exit outside the structural column  140 . Additionally, the storage unit  125  is connected to a water outlet  170  to allow water to enter a floor detention facility (not shown). In operation, water may flow from a ceiling storage unit (not shown) through the water inlet  160  into the storage unit  125  and subsequently exit through the water outlet  170  into the floor detention facility. Additionally, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the storage unit  125  may optionally be connected to the clean out line (not shown) and the hose bib attachment (not shown) as discussed above.  
         [0035]     Similar to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  illustrates the storage unit  125  in the structural column  140  with reinforcing bar bracing  145 . The primary difference between the embodiment in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  is that the storage unit  125  is not connected to the floor detention facility, but rather includes an interior slope  180 . The interior slope  180  is utilized to ensure flow of fluid through the catchment system  100 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the storage unit  125  in the structural column  130 ,  140 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the structural column  130 ,  140  includes a reinforcing member  185  for use in supporting the storage unit  125 . Although the structural column  130 ,  140  in  FIG. 7  shows only one reinforcing member  185  attached thereto, any number of reinforcing members in any orientation may be attached to the structural column  130 ,  140  without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a plurality of storage units  150  in roof support structures of the building  10 . Similar to the storage units  125  in the wall of the building  10 , the storage units  150  have the capacity to store water. The storage units  150  may be interconnected by a connection line (not shown). The storage units  150  are disposed and supported in structural members in a similar manner as the wall storage units  125 . Typically, the storage units  150  include a fluid connection member (not shown) at each end thereof. The fluid connection member is generally used to connect the storage units  150  to another component such as the wall storage units (not shown), an interior water component, or an exterior water component.  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment of the catchment system  100  with ceiling storage units  150  and wall storage units  125 . In the embodiment shown, the storage units  150  are fluidly attached to the storage units  125  to provide increased water storage capacity in the catchment system  100 . In another embodiment, either storage units  125 ,  150  of the catchment system  100  may be used independently.  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is a view illustrating the catchment system  100  in a building  20  with a green roof  200 . As illustrated, the building  20  includes an optional columnar support  95  to support the green roof  200 . The columnar support  95  may include additional storage units  125  to increase the capacity of the catchment system  100 . The building  20  also includes a porch with a photovoltaic panel  90  attached thereto. The photovoltaic panel works in conjunction with the porch to reduce heat gain through the windows and extend the life of the structure. Additionally, the catchment system  100  in the building  20  may include similar components as described above, such as the utility conduit, the clean out valve, and the hose bib.  
         [0040]     Generally, a green roof  200  is an extension of the existing roof which typically includes a root barrier, a media security, another root barrier, a filter fabric, a drainage material, a protection material, an insulation material, a waterproofing material, a lightweight growing medium, and plants. The green roof  200  may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media, and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each component of the system may be installed separately. In other words, the green roof  200  is a contained green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the “ground”.  
         [0041]     The green roof  200  is generally constructed by waterproofing above the deck, adding insulation above the waterproofing, placing a protection material above the insulation, adding a drainage material above the protection material, installing a filter fabric above the drainage material, placing a root barrier fabric above the filter fabric, adding a filter fabric media above the root barrier fabric, planting media above the root barrier fabric, locating media security above the planting media, and planting materials above the plant material security (irrigation fixtures and lighting conduit for the green roof  200  may be included in the planting media section).  
         [0042]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the green roof  200  has sloped drainage to an exterior portion of the load bearing walls of the building  20 . The green roof  200  also includes a retaining wall  210 . As shown, the green roof  200  is connected to the catchment system  100  by an inlet  205  disposed proximate the retaining wall  220 . The inlet  205  may include a removable grate or a solids filter (not shown) for filtering the solids from liquid prior to entering the catchment system  100 . Additionally, an overflow scupper (not shown) may be used to allow overflow water to wash off a photovoltaic panel  90 . Generally, water, such as rain water, is harvested from the green roof  200  and redirected into the catchment system  100  within the building walls in a similar manner as discussed above. In one embodiment, the entrance to the water catchment system  100  could be fitted with a first flush by-pass to allow a percentage of water and solids, such as the first 10%, to be applied to the exterior landscape. In another embodiment, the green roof  200  could be used as a filter to potentially eliminate the first flush by-pass. In other words, the green roof  200  construction could be used as a method for purifying the rain water in lieu of the first flush bypass. Similar to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11  is a view illustrating the catchment system  100  in a multi-story building  30  with the green roof  200 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating the catchment system  100  in a building  40  with the green roof  200  and a pool  55 . The pool  55  is positioned on the green roof  200  at a predetermined location. The pool  55  acts as a detention facility for storage of water. In one embodiment, a pergola with a glass roof (not shown) may be disposed on the pool. The glass roof is constructed and arranged such that evaporation accumulates on the inside of the glass structure and drips back down into the planting area of the green roof  200 . Thus, reducing the amount of water needed to grow plants. Additionally, the pergola can be used as a shade structure or to hold additional PV panels. For support and hurricane wind loading, the pergola with the glass roof could be tied to the structural exterior walls of the building  40 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 13  is a view illustrating the catchment system  100  in a multi-story building  50  with the green roof  200  and several other adjacent green roofs  250 . Similar to buildings  20  and  30  in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , building  50  includes the green roof  200  for harvesting and purifying water, such as rain water. Additionally, building  50  includes an additional green roof  250  for each floor of the multi-story building  50 . Each green roof  200 ,  250  is connected to the catchment system  100  collectively or independently. In another embodiment, an independent catchment system  100  may be employed on each floor of the multi-story building  50 . Additionally, each green roof  250  is connected to a porch eave for reducing heat gain through the windows and extending the life of the structure.  
         [0045]     Various basics of the invention have been explained and shown herein. The various techniques and devices disclosed represent a portion of that which those skilled in the art would readily understand from the teachings of this application. Details for the implementation thereof can be added by those with ordinary skill in the art. Such details may be added to the disclosure in another application based on this application and it is believed that the inclusion of such details does not add new subject matter to the application. The accompanying figures may contain additional information not specifically discussed in the text and such information may be described in a later application without adding new subject matter. Additionally, various combinations and permutations of all elements or applications can be created and presented. All can be done to optimize performance in a specific application. 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.