Patent Publication Number: US-6668390-B1

Title: Debris recovery for drainage system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a debris recovery device, and more particularly, to such a device that is used with drainage systems. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many designs for debris recovery in drainage systems have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a basket or collector including a bottom wall that could be readily open in the event it is clogged and that is activated by the weight of the collected debris. 
     In a typical drain system, debris accumulates in the shaft causing the system to clog, requiring expensive excavation and maintenance work. The present invention resolves the problem by collecting the debris before it clogs and damages the drain system. 
     Also, oil spills cause contamination of the soils and drain systems. The basket or collector includes an oil filter to prevent this from happening. 
     Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,565 issued to Jose Franco in January 2001 for a trash collector for exfiltration drain systems. Franco&#39;s patented collector is a drain assembly with a shaft and it has an enlarged shoulder at its upper end for supporting the basket assembly by providing a peripheral resting surface. However, it differs from the present invention because it lacks a bottom wall that is opened in the event the basket assembly is clogged. In this manner, the present invention can be unattended for extended periods of time. 
     Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a device for collecting debris in drainage systems that automatically releases its clogging load upon reaching a predetermined limit. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 represents an isometric view of one of the preferred embodiments for the present debris recovery for drainage system with an oil trap sheet. The figure is in partial cross-section to show the hinge assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the device represented in FIG. 1 showing the bottom wall partially open. The oil trap sheet is shown separated from bottom wall. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes basket assembly  20 , hinge assembly  40  and oil trap  60 . 
     As seen in FIG. 1, basket assembly  20  includes longitudinal peripheral walls  22  and  22 ′ parallel to each other, transversal peripheral walls  24  and  24 ′ parallel to each other and bottom wall  26  pivotally mounted to wall  24 . Walls  22  and  22 ′ and transversal walls  24  and  24 ′ are perpendicularly disposed. In the preferred embodiment, peripheral walls  22 ;  22 ′;  24  and  24 ′ are perpendicularly disposed with respect to bottom wall  26 . Walls  22 ;  22 ′;  24  and  24 ′ and bottom wall  26  are made out of a meshed material, preferably stainless steel, or any other material that is corrosion resistant, such as aluminum. Bottom wall  26  is hingedly mounted to transversal wall  24 . Bottom wall  26  includes longitudinal edges  27  and  27 ′ and transversal edges  28  and  28 ′, as best seen in FIG.  2 . 
     Basket assembly  20  has upper edges  122 ;  122 ′;  124  and  124 ′ and lower edges  142 ;  142 ′;  144  and  144 ′ for walls  22 ;  22 ′;  24  and  24 ′ respectively. Edges  122 ;  122 ′;  124  and  124 ′ are reinforced and include perpendicularly and outwardly extending flange members  132 ;  132 ′;  134  and  134 ′, respectively. Flange members  132 ;  132 ′;  134  and  134 ′ rest on the peripheral shoulder that is parallel to and below the ground where a typical drain system is installed. In the preferred embodiment, handle members  29  and  29 ′ are inwardly and rigidly mounted to edges  122  and  122 ′. Members  29  and  29 ′ can also be pivotally mounted so they would drop out of the way when not in use. 
     Hinge assembly  40  includes joint  44  and leaves  43  and  45 . Leaf  43  is rigidly mounted to the center of lower edge  144 . Leaf  45  is rigidly mounted to the center of transversal edge  28 . Spring member  48  has ends  49  and  49 ′. End  49  is removably mounted to nail  30 . Nail  30  is rigidly mounted to edge  124 ′. End  49 ′ is rigidly mounted to a point next to end  54  of reinforced bar  50 . 
     Reinforced bar  50  includes ends  52  and  54 . Bar  50  has substantially the same elongated dimension of bottom wall  26  and extends therealong. Bar  50  is mounted to bottom wall  26 . End  52  is rigidly attached to the distal end of leaf  45 . End  54  is attached to the center of transversal edge  28 ′. Bar  50  is intended to provide structural integrity to bottom wall  26 , and other equivalent structures can be used. 
     Oil trap  60  is removably mounted to bottom wall  26 . Oil trap  60  has the substantially same dimensions of bottom wall  26 . Oil trap  60  is implemented with an oil pad used for this purpose such as the manufactured by 3M, Corp., St. Paul, Minn., under the 3M Brand High Performance Petroleum Sorbent, part numbers 70-0703-1378, 70-0703-1379, 70-0703-1380, and other equivalent materials. 
     Debris recovery for device  10  collects the debris before it clogs and damages the drain system and/or surrounding area. Debris recovery  10  also avoids the contamination of the soils and drain systems with oils and similar products. In the event an overflow occurs, the force of the water and accumulated debris forces bottom wall to open facilitating the discharge of the device. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.