Patent Publication Number: US-11643802-B2

Title: Sump overflow protector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/092,033; filed Oct. 15, 2020. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to devices and designs for preventing the overflow of water from a sump crock in a floor of a bottom level of a building. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a building sump overflow protector design and device for same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, it is known to provide a sump pump within a sump crock, tank or pit and a sump pump in a bottom floor of a building for collecting ground water from the foundation of the building and any tile field and wherein the sump includes a pump for pumping the collected water in the sump outside of the building. It is known to include a pump and electric motor for operating the pump and having an outlet coupled to a pipe, conduit, hose, etc. for conveying the collected water out of and away from the building and its foundation (i.e., so the removed water will not return and again be collected by the foundation and/or the tile field of the building. 
     The known devices and designs vary a great deal and may include many types of modalities for attempting to prevent a sump crock from overflowing and flooding a bottom floor (e.g., basement) of a building (e.g., structure, house, home, etc.). For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,998,736; 4,553,561; 5,007,451; 5,069,243; and 6,712,553, each of which disclose alternative designs and devices for warning and/or attempting to prevent (or contain) an overflow of water from a sump crock in the floor of the building. The known prior examples for addressing wateroverflow in a sump installation remain unsatisfactory and riddled with problems and fail to provide an effective solution since they continue to rely on traditional modalities having known failure designs and devices. Several of the examples require a continuous supply of electricity and battery backup to operate a sump pump. When operating properly the sump pump will remove the drain water from the sump crock in the generally known manner. However, if the system fails some of the known designs and devices attempt to contain the sump water above the floor of the building, requiring complex devices and seals which are known to be prone to failing over time. Numerous other problems with the know devices have been noted over a long period of time yet they remain. 
     There long remains a continuing and significant need to provide an improved sump overflow protection device and design. There remains a continuing and significant need to provide an improved sump overflow protection device and design having improved performance and modalities of operation that eliminate the need for any electrical or other power supply and eliminate the storage of sump overflow water above the floor while also reducing the cost and complexity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, there is disclosed a sump overflow protector for use in a building having a bottom floor and a drainage field for collecting drainage water from the perimeter of the building. There is also disclosed a sump overflow protector including a sump overflow basin for collecting overflow drain water from the sump crock, tank or pit and directing it to a sump overflow basin outlet which may be coupled to a drainage field for use in a building having a bottom floor. 
     There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing and/or installing a sump overflow protector in a floor of a building including the steps of forming a sump pump overflow basin proximal a sump crock and including a wall for separating the sump overflow basin from the rest of the floor and a sump overflow basin outlet located distal the sump crock and providing a drain in the sump overflow basin of the sump overflow protector for communicating overflow water from a sump crock to the drain and wherein the drain conveys water to the drain water sewer of the building. These and other embodiments and benefits of the present disclosure will become better understood in view of the detailed description and the attached figures. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a sump overflow protector design in a bottom floor of a building according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a second, perspective view of the sump overflow protector design of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a partial, cross-section view of the design of the sump overflow protection circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a top plan view according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a partial, cross-section view of the design of a sump overflow protection circuit according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a partial, cross-section view of the design of a sump overflow protection circuit according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    a partial, cross-section perspective view of a sump including a collar trough, circumscribing the sump for directing water overflowing from the sump to the drainage field via a drain in the floor. 
         FIG.  8    is a top, plan view of the sump of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a partial, cross-section perspective view of a sump insert including an integral collar trough. 
         FIG.  10 A  is a top plan view of a sump overflow insert including an above ground trough for directing overflow water from the sump to a drain. 
         FIG.  10 B  is a partial, cross-section view of the sump overflow insert including an above ground trough for directing overflow water from the sump to a drain. 
         FIG.  11 A  is a top view of a sump overflow insert including an above ground through for directing overflow water from the sump to a drain. 
         FIG.  11 B  is a partial, cross-section view of sump overflow insert including an above ground trough for directing overflow water from the sump to a drain. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The present disclosure relates generally to solutions for use in a sump in a building. The general operation, design and use of a water sump in a building is understood. The inclusion of a sump pump for removing water from the sump or sump crock, tank or pit may also be of any know or appropriate type or standard. 
     Referring in general to all of the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS.  1 - 5   , there is disclosed a sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  for use in a building  11  having a plurality of walls  12   a ,  12   b  and a floor  14 . Typically, the floor  14  is a basement floor, however, it can be any floor where there is a drainage field  13  (shown in  FIG.  7   ) that can be tiles, pipes, etc. that collect water from the perimeter of the building  11  and drain to a sump crock  20  through an inlet  24 . The sump overflow protection device  10   a ,  10   b  is effective for containing water overflowing from the sump crock 20  to a sump overflow basin  26   a ,  26   b  having a basin floor  16  for conveying, containing, communicating, or otherwise directing the overflowing water from the sump crock  20  to a sewer system  48  that is coupled to the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  as further described herein. In the current embodiments, the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  includes an opening  44  for communicating any overflow water to a pipe or conduit  42  that optionally leads to a trap  45  and onto the sewer system  48  by the overflow system  10   a ,  10   b . The trap  45  prevents unwanted smells from in through the conduit  42 . Also, all embodiments of the present invention optionally include a back flow valve  46  that is a one way valve that will close and prevent the back flow of water and sewage from the sewer system  48 . 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 5    of the present disclosure, the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  has includes the sump overflow basin  26   a ,  26   b  both of which include basin floor  16  that circumscribe an opening  22  of the sump crock  20  and further have a surface that is lower in depth than the surface of the floor  14  to form the sump overflow basin  26   a ,  26   b . The basin floor  16  includes an outlet  40  including the pipe or conduit  42  having the opening  44 . The outlet  40  may preferably be aligned and located proximal the opening  22  of the sump  20 . It is preferred that the outlet  40  may preferably be located a limited distance from the opening  22  of the sump  20  so that any water overflowing the opening  22  of the sump  20  need only travel a limited distance across the basin floor  16  to opening  44  of the outlet  40 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention the outlet  40  is located at a distance of 12 inches or less from the edge of the opening  22  of the sump  20 . While 12 inches or less are described it is within the scope of the invention for the distance to be greater depending on the needs of a particular application. 
     The sump crock  20  may be located in the basin floor  16  of the floor  14  proximal walls  12  of the building  11 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the sump crock  20  includes the inlet  24  for receiving water collected from drainage field that includes a drainage or tile field (not shown) located about the perimeter of the building  11  that conveys water to the sump crock  20  where the water collects over time. The sump crock  20  includes the opening  22  in the basin floor  16  of the floor  14 . The sump crock  20  also includes a sump-pump  30  including an outlet pipe or conduit  32  and having a check (or one way) valve  34  as may be of any known or appropriate type or design as may be understood. In all embodiments of the present invention conduit  42  of the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b ,  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500  the is separate from the conduit  32  that is connected to the sump pump  30  (not shown in all figures but can be present). The sump pump  30  is electrically powered via the power cord  36  as best shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  5  and  6   ; but can also operate using a different power source such as a battery power source. While  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  5  and  6    all show the details of the sump pump  30 , the other figures have omitted showing the sump pump  30  and related components for purposes of showing the details of the different embodiments of the sump overflow system. It is within the scope of the invention for the other embodiments shown in all of the figures to have a sump pump  30  and related components depending. While the present embodiment discloses that the sump  20  is located proximal a corner defined by two walls  12   a ,  12   b  (one of which is an outside) of the building  11 , it is expressly contemplated that the sump  20  may be located anywhere lithe floor  14  within the building  11 . The present invention is related to a solution to address sump crock water overflow independent of the design or details of the sump pump  30  and its related aspects and components. In other words, the present invention can be implemented with almost any sump pumps, sump crocks and drain field designs where it is possible for water to back up onto a floor of a building. Accordingly, the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  of the present disclosure is designed or configured to generally correspond with the design and configuration of the sump crock  20  and its surrounding structures. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5    the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  of the present disclosure further includes a sump overflow basin  26   a ,  26   b . The embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5    show the sump overflow basin  26   a  having a plurality of extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  that are walls, partitions, fences, and dividers that extend past the height of the surface of the floor  14  and define a perimeter  28  of the sump overflow basin  26   a . The sump overflow basin contains both the opening  22  of the sump crock  20  and the opening  44  of the conduit  42  of the outlet  40 . The sump overflow basin  26   b  in  FIG.  3    contains all the same elements but does not have extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  and instead the top surface of the floor  14  is higher than the top surface of the basin floor  16  with the two different planes being separated by a wall  19 . While the extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  of  FIGS.  1 , 2 , 3 , 4  and  5    have a generally rectangular or square configuration, it is contemplated that the extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  of the overflow basin  26   a  of the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  have alternative shapes and designs, including a single shaped (circular, oval, curvilinear, etc.) extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  encircling the opening  22  and the outlet  40 . In the present disclosure, the extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  of the sump overflow system  10   a  may be made from any known or appropriate material such as being formed in the concrete of the floor  14  during construction of the building  11  to define the basin floor  16  having a level offset from the level of the floor  14 . The basin floor  16  may have a generally planar extent and may also have a slight variation in its pitch to contain and direct water overflowing from the opening  22  of the sump  20  toward the opening  44  of the outlet  40 . While the extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  of the basin  26   a  of the sump overflow system  10   a  may be directly formed in the concrete of the floor  14  or extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  are made of wood and included in the floor  14 . 
     Referring now for  FIG.  6    there is a sump overflow system  100  that that includes a sump overflow basin  126  that is a single piece unit with a floor  119  that is placed on top of the basin floor  16 . The sump overflow basin  126  has extension members  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  that are integrated with the sump overflow basin  126 . It is also contemplated that there is additional extension members  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  depending on the shape of the sump overflow basin  126 . Additionally, the extension members  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  can have a height that extends above the top surface of the floor  14 . basin floor 
     It is expressly contemplated that the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b  and  100  may be incorporated and installed in the building  11  in a variety of manners. It is notable that the primary focus of the solution provided is the forming of a basin floor  16  having a level different than the level of the floor  14  and including the outlet  40  in the basin floor  16 , as well as the inclusion in formation and/or installation of the extension members  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d ,  118   a ,  118   b ,  118   c  to define the sump overflow basin  26 ,  126  for receiving and containing overflow water from the sump  20 . This way overflow water may be directed, communicated, conveyed to the opening  44  of the outlet  40 , where the water enters a pipe  42  where it exits the building  11  and is optionally conveyed or received by a sewer system  48 . Many building codes have disallowed locating a floor drain (like the outlet  40 ) in the sump (like sump crock  20 ). By forming, installing, providing, creating, etc. a different level basin floor  16  (preferably the level of the basin floor  16  is lower than the rest of the floor  14 ) and defining the sump overflow basin  26 ,  126  the outlet  40  may be located more proximal the sump crock  20  and within the sump overflow basin  26  such that overflowing water from the sump  20  may be contained, conveyed, directed, communicated, transferred, etc. to the outlet  40  of the sump overflow system  10   a ,  10   b ,  100  wherein the water will be moved away from the building  11  and the overflowing water will not reach the floor  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  7  and  8    there is disclosed a sump overflow system  500 . Like reference numbers from other figures are carried forward and used herein without repetition. The sump overflow system  500  includes a sump  520  installed in the floor  14  of the building  12  that has an encircling trough ring  516  located proximal an opening  522  of the sump  520 . The trough ring  516  is formed in the cement of the floor  14  and defines a floor ring  514  between the sump  520  and the trough ring  516 . The bottom of the trough ring  516  is located below the surface of the floor  14 . Water which overflows out of the opening of the sump  520  will first flow over the floor ring  514  and then collects in the trough ring  516  which directs the flow of the overflowing water around the sump and toward the trough leg  517  which extends from the trough ring  516  to an outlet  540  where the water may be directed to flow into the outlet  540  and to the drainage field or sewer system  48 . As will be appreciated above, this embodiment includes the forming of the concrete of the floor  14  to include the trough ring  516  and trough leg  517  and will include the typical aspects of laying and forming concrete including the pitching of the surfaces to direct the water toward the outlet  540 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  9    there is a disclosed a sump overflow system  200  that includes a sump insert  210  including a sump crock portion  220  having an opening  222 . Like the embodiment of  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the sump insert  210  includes an encircling trough ring  216  and a trough leg  217  formed as part of the sump insert  210 . The sump insert  210  may be inserted in the floor  14  of the building. The sump insert  210  can be coupled to the sump inlet  224  where the sump water is conveyed into the sump  220 . Again, if the water overflows the opening  222  of the sump insert  210  the water will cross a ring surface  214  and then flow into the trough ring  216  where it will be directed toward a trough leg  217  and then to the outlet  240  in the floor  14  and then to the drain field or sewer and away from the floor  14  and building. In this embodiment of the invention the opening  222  of the sump insert is above the surface of the floor. Additionally, the ring surface  214 , trough ring  216  and trough leg  217  are all located above the surface of the floor  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  a sump overflow system  300  is shown and includes a sump insert  310 . The sump insert  310  is like the sump insert  210  except in the present embodiment of the invention the sump insert  310  is not integrated with a sump  320 . Instead, the sump insert  310  is designed to sit above the floor  14  and has a lip  315  that inserts into the sump portion  320 . The sump insert  310  includes an open ring  316  coupled to a leg  317  for directing overflowing water from the sump  320  to an outlet  340 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  11 A,  11 B  a sump overflow system  400  is shown that includes a sump insert  410 . The sump insert  410  is like the sump insert  310  in that it is also not integrated with a sump portion  420 , although it may be integrated with it just like the sump insert  210 . The sump insert  410  is also designed to sit above the floor  14  and includes an open ring  416 . The sump insert  410  may include a leg  417  for directing overflowing water from the sump  420  to an outlet  440 . The sump insert  410  may include an opening in the leg  417  for coupling with a hose or other conduit  418  for conveying the water to from an overflowing sump  420  to an outlet  440 . The sump insert  410  works best where the outlet  440  is not located sufficiently proximal the sump  420  such that the leg  417  may be coupled directly to the outlet. The conduit  418  can have any length depending on the distance to the outlet  440 . 
     Any numerical values recited herein or in the figures are intended to include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit if there is a separation of at least  2  units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time, and the like is, forexample, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. As can be seen, the teaching of amounts expressed as “parts by weight” herein also contemplates the same ranges expressed in terms of percent by weight. Thus, an expression in the Detailed Description of the Invention of a range in terms of at “‘x’ parts by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition” also contemplates a teaching of ranges of same recited amount of “x” in percent by weight of the resulting polymeric blend composition.” 
     Unless expressly stated, all ranges are intended to include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least thespecified endpoints. 
     The use of the term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components, or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components, or steps. By use of the term “may” herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” be included are optional. 
     The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component, or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components, or steps. Plural elements, ingredients, components, or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component, or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component, or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components, or steps. 
     It is understood that the present description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon understanding the present disclosure. The scope of the claimed invention should, therefore, not be determined with limiting reference to the description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which the claims are entitled. Any disclosure of an article or reference, including patent applications and publications, is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Any omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.