Abstract:
A container system ( 10 ) for collecting and storing liquids comprises a receptacle ( 12 ) with an opening ( 11 ) at a top ( 13 ) thereof. The container system ( 10 ) further includes a lid ( 40 ) covering the opening ( 11 ) of the receptacle ( 12 ) and includes a central aperture ( 50 ) and a plurality of radial channels ( 60 ) in an upper and outer surface ( 41 ) spoking out from the aperture ( 50 ) to permit liquids impinging upon the outer surface ( 41 ) to flow through the channels ( 60 ) into the aperture ( 50 ). The lid ( 40 ) includes a screen ( 80 ) disposed and held within the aperture ( 50 ) with a plurality of interstices ( 82 ) therein.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/162,815 filed Mar. 24, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to collection systems, and more particularly, to a container for collecting and storing rain. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The watchwords today are protection, preservation and conservation. This is particularly true with respect to water. Preserving and conserving water has become especially important. One such way to preserve and conserve water is with rain barrels for catching and storing falling rain water. Rain barrels have been used for years to catch, store and use rain water. The uses of the captured rain are too numerous to mention. Some examples include watering vegetation, drinking, washing, and cooking. There is always a need to improve upon the many systems in existence today. 
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a container for rain and is an improvement upon existing rain barrels. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a container for collecting and storing rain water and other liquids. The container comprises a receptacle with a central opening in the top, a lid covering the opening having a central aperture therein and a plurality of radial channels in an upper and outer surface spoking out from the aperture to permit liquids striking the upper, outer surface to flow through the channels into the aperture, and a screen disposed and held within the aperture. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment, a container for collecting liquids, such as rain, comprises a receptacle for storing the liquid having an opening at a top of the receptacle and, a lid covering the opening of the receptacle. The lid has a central aperture and a plurality of channels in an upper and outer surface of the lid in fluid communication with the aperture. The plurality of channels spoke radially outwardly from the aperture. The container also includes a screen supported within the aperture. The screen can comprise a perimeter support holding a mesh with a plurality of interstices. 
         [0007]    The container can further include at least one overflow spout in an upper portion of the receptacle. Additional spouts can be added. 
         [0008]    The container can further include at least one drain in a lower portion of the receptacle. Again, more drains can be added. 
         [0009]    The lid can have a pitch towards the aperture. Additionally, the receptacle can have an upper perimeter lip and the lid can have a perimeter lip. Preferably, the two lips frictionally engage one another. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another embodiment, a container for collecting liquids comprises a receptacle for storing the liquid with an opening at a top thereof. The container includes a lid covering the opening of the receptacle. The lid includes a central aperture therein and a plurality of radial channels in an upper and outer surface spoking out from the aperture to permit liquids impinging upon the outer surface to flow through the channels into the aperture. The container further includes a screen disposed within the aperture with a plurality of interstices therein. 
         [0011]    The receptacle and lid can be formed from an injection molded plastic. The screen can be metal. 
         [0012]    Each channel can include a rounded end distal from the aperture. Additionally, each channel can include a ledge proximate the aperture. 
         [0013]    The container can further comprise structure for supporting the screen in the aperture. The supporting structure can include an outer ring along a periphery of the aperture and a plurality of spokes projecting outwardly from a centrally located hub. The outer ring can be supported below the ledge by a generally cylindrical wall. A plurality of tangs can project outwardly from an inner surface of the wall to hold the screen. The screen can be circular and include a perimeter support. 
         [0014]    The receptacle can include one or more drains proximate the bottom of the receptacle. Each of the drains can be threaded to receive a removable cap. Similarly, the receptacle can include one or more overflow spouts proximate the top of the receptacle. Again, the overflow spouts can be threaded to receive a removable cap. 
         [0015]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of the container system made in accordance with the teaching of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the container system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the container system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a left side elevation view of the container system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a right side elevation view of the container system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the container system; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevation view of the container system; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the container system; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the container system; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the lid; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the lid; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of the lid; and, 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of the screen. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The present invention will have the following main components and techniques for operation of the system. 
         [0031]    The container system of the present system is shown generally in  FIG. 1  by reference number  10 . The system  10  includes three (3) primary components, that being the receptacle  12 , the lid  40 , and the screen or filter  80 . The lid  40  captures impinging or striking rain and directs it into a central aperture  50 . Once at the aperture, the rain passes through the filter  80  and into the receptacle  12  wherein it can be easily drained. To prevent overflow within the receptacle  12 , a plurality of overflow spouts  21 , 22  are also provided near the top  13  of the receptacle  12 . One or more drains  31 , 32  are provided near the bottom  14  of the receptacle  12  to drain the receptacle  12 . 
       The Receptacle  12   
       [0032]    The receptacle  12  of the container system  10  includes a top portion  13  with an opening  11 . The receptacle  12  also includes a closed bottom  14 , an inner surface  16  and an outer surface  15 . The receptacle  12  is designed to hold water and, in particular, rain water. The receptacle  12  is made in a high pressure injection molding process using rigid injection moldable grade plastic. The receptacle  12  can be bumped and deformed slightly, but maintains its structural integrity. For additional structural strength, a reinforcement lip  19  is formed in the top  13  of the receptacle  12  adjacent the opening  11 . Opposed indents  25  are formed below the lip  19  to serve as a place to put one&#39;s fingers when lifting and moving the receptacle  12 . Though not shown, opposed handles can be formed in the outer surface  15  of the receptacle  12  for the same purpose. 
         [0033]    A first drain  31  and a second drain  32  are positioned just above the bottom  14  of the receptacle  12  at slightly different elevations. These drains  31 , 32  pass through openings (not shown) in the inner and outer surfaces  14 , 15  of the receptacle  12  to permit water to flow from inside the receptacle  12  to out of the receptacle  12 . The drains  31 , 32  preferably extend slightly outwardly from the outer surface  15  of the receptacle  12  and have external threading (not shown) at the distal end thereof. An internally threaded cap (not shown) may be threaded over each of the drain&#39;s  31 , 32  distal ends to ensure water does not inadvertently flow out therefrom. When desired, one may remove one or both caps from the drains to permit water to flow out of the receptacle  12  to empty it. If further desired, one may hook up a hose, such as a garden hose, by threading it to the distal end of one of the drains  31 , 32  so as to direct the flow of the water to a specific location, such as a garden, an outdoor drain, or a sump system. 
         [0034]    A first overflow spout  21  and a second overflow spout  22  are positioned just below the upper lip  19 . These spouts  21 , 22  pass through openings (not shown) in the inner and outer surfaces  14 , 15  of the receptacle  12  to permit water to flow from inside the receptacle  12  to out of the receptacle  12 . These spouts  21 , 22  preferably extend outwardly from the outer surface  15  of the receptacle  12  and have external threading  23  at the distal end thereof. An internally threaded cap (not shown) may be threaded over each of the spout&#39;s  21 , 22  distal ends to ensure water does not flow out therefrom. When desired, one may remove one or both caps from the spouts to permit water to flow thereout to prevent the receptacle  12  from overflowing. If further desired, one may hook up a hose, such as a garden hose, by threading it to the distal end of the spout(s)  21 , 22  so as to direct the flow of the water to a specific location, such as a garden, an outdoor drain, or a sump system. 
         [0035]    To reduce the weight of the receptacle  12  and to facilitate the flow of water within the receptacle to the drains  31 , 32 , a plurality of longitudinal troughs  17 , creating legs or feet  18 , are formed into the receptacle  12 . The troughs  17  are triangularly shaped or tapered towards the drains  31 , 32 . This construction tends to prevent pooling within the receptacle. 
         [0036]    The ring on the bottom  14  is to reinforce the bottom wall, to avoid warpage at the bottom and to protect the date and all other marks in or on the bin. 
       The Lid  40   
       [0037]    The lid  40  has an upper, outer top surface  41  and an inner bottom surface  42  with a central aperture  50  in about the middle thereof. The aperture  50  permits the drainage of rain water striking the outer top surface  41  to pass through the lid  40  into the receptacle  12 . A marginal edge  45  is formed at the perimeter of the lid  40  with a downwardly extending lip  44  formed at the outer edge thereof. The lip  44  in the perimeter of the lid  40  frictionally engages the upper lip  19  of the receptacle  12  so that the upper edge of the receptacle  12  is seated against the marginal edge  45 . A plurality of radial channels  60  project outwardly from the aperture  50  (or inwardly from the perimeter lip  44 ) in the upper surface  41  of the lid  40 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , each radial channel  60  has a rounded section  61 , a consistent section  62 , and a ledge  63 . The rounded section  61  has a rounded wall  69  at or near the marginal edge  45  adjacent the perimeter of the lid  40 . Rain water flows in the channel  60  from the perimeter towards the aperture and off the ledge  63 . For this reason the channels  60  and/or the outer top surface  41  of the lid  40  are pitched downwardly towards the aperture  50 . Accordingly, water striking or impinging the top or outer surface  41  of the lid  40  flows into the aperture  50 . 
         [0039]    Referring again to  FIG. 10 , a supporting structure or ring  70  is molded or attached to the lid  40  for supporting the screen or filter  80 . The structure/ring  70  includes a centrally located hub  71  and a plurality of spokes  72  projecting radially outwardly therefrom to an outer ring  75 . Voids  74  are created between the spokes  72  for water to flow therethrough. Each spoke  72  has fillets so as to create a reinforced foot  73  attaching to the outer ring  75 . 
         [0040]    The outer ring  75  is supported below the ledge  63  by a wall  78 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a plurality of tangs  76  are formed within the wall  78 . Each tang  76  is connected or extends from the ledge  63  (annularly between the channels  60 ) to a slot  79  formed in the outer ring  75 . As a result, the ring  70  is suspended below the ledge  63  and a circular screen can be held within the wall  78  on the ring  70  by the tangs  76 . 
       The Screen  80   
       [0041]    The screen  80  is supported on the ring  70  and below the ledge  63  by the tangs  76 . As a result, water can flow over the ledge  63  and through the screen  80 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , the screen  80  is preferably circular and includes a perimeter support  81  and a mesh  82 . The support  81  holds and adds rigidity to the mesh  82 . The interstices formed in the mesh  82  permit water to flow from the lid  40  into the receptacle  12 . The screen  80  catches and prevents certain debris from flowing into the receptacle  12 . The mesh size or interstices determine the size of the debris held back from entering the receptacle and captured. By the above construction, the screen  80  can be easily put and held in place by the tangs  76  and removed from the tangs  76  for cleaning. 
         [0043]    The terms “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” etc. are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments in any way. The term “plurality” as used herein is intended to indicate any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary, up to an infinite number. The terms “joined” and “connected” as used herein are intended to put or bring two elements together so as to form a unit, and any number of elements, devices, fasteners, etc. may be provided between the joined or connected elements unless otherwise specified by the use of the term “directly” and supported by the drawings. 
         [0044]    While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications can be made without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.