Patent Abstract:
A liquid containment device for use with refrigerators to prevent overflow and damage to flooring. The containment device allows for appliance elevation within and integral support and water collection pan. The detachable loading ramps provide for smoothly rolling the appliance up onto the integrated independent elevated level support surfaces within the water retainment pan.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/828,326, filed May 29, 2013. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to drain and water containment safety pans placed under appliances that generate water output from defrosting and condensation and the like such as refrigerators. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been heretofore directed to water overflow safety trays or pans that the appliance is placed. Such overflow safety trays typically have a drain line connected thereto extending to a drain assuring that no water damage will occur if the water is released from the appliance. 
     Examples of such safety drain pans can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,034,340, 4,889,155 and 6,718,788. Additionally, design patents D337,154 and D388,566. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,034,340 discloses a drip pan under an ice box which is connected to a remote drain by a drain line extending there between. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,155 discloses a water collection mat for dishwashers having a flexible base with an upstanding perimeter rim and an inner surface incline towards a center opening therein connected to a flexible drain tube. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,788 claims a method for producing a drain pan in which an appliance can be placed. 
     Design Patent D337,154 discloses a design for a drain tray having an inclined interior to collect water to a central drain outlet. 
     Design Patent D388,566 shows a water catcher for an appliance having a water tray which is elevated on multiple adjustable legs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A water collection and containment pan for appliances, specifically refrigerators that elevates the appliance within a water retention pan having upstanding sidewalls with an inclined interior base surface. Elevated elongated appliance receiving platforms extend from the interior surface of the pan providing support for an appliance positioned thereon in an elevated position. Auxiliary access loading ramps are provided to allow for rolling the appliance up and onto the platforms within the containment pan. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the collection pan of the invention with access ramps being positioned for use. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the retainment support pan. 
         FIG. 3  is a section on lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the retainment support pan. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of one of the access ramps. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view on lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A water containment pan  10  can be seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings having a pan portion  11  and multiple ramps  12  and  13  removably attached thereto as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The pan portion  11  has oppositely disposed front and rear walls  14  and  15  with interconnecting spaced parallel sidewalls  16  and  17 . The wall pairs  14  and  15  and  16  and  17  are integral with a continuous interior surface  18  which has a dual incline pitch orientation extending from the front wall  14  downwardly to the rear wall  15  and correspondingly from the respective oppositely disposed sidewalls  16  and  17  inwardly towards a central area defined by a broken pitch line PL shown for representation purposes only. 
     An outlet drain  19  is formed within the interior surface  18  at a cross translateral point of the hereinbefore described dual pitch interior surface. 
     The drain  19  may be static having a gravity feed channel  20  extending outwardly therefrom through the rear wall  15  or active by having inclusion of an attached powered transfer pump P illustrated in dotted lines for an alternate illustration purpose only in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
     A pair of spaced parallel elongated elevated platforms  21  and  22  extend integrally from the dual pitch interior surface  18  extending from adjacent the front wall  14  and in spaced relation to the respective rear wall  15 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the front wall  14  has a pair of spaced elongated notches  23  and  24  therein which will provide for respective access ramps  12  and  13  selective engagement registration and stabilization thereto for loading and unloading the wheeled appliance thereon as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The platforms  21  and  22  orientation within the pan portion  11  and corresponding dual side to side and front to back internal interior surface pitch can clearly be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings assuring that any liquid leakage that is generated from the appliance such as will occur during normal operation inclusive of defrosting or cooling as would occur in a refrigerator will safely be caught and retained there within. 
     The appliance receiving platforms  21  and  22  have respective flat level upper surfaces  21 A and  22 B which are the same height as that of the respective perimeter walls  14 - 17  and are of a transverse width and parallel spacing to accommodate a variety of different appliance support wheeled configurations. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6  of the drawings the access ramps  12  and  13  can be seen having an inclined tapered upper surface  25 , an oppositely disposed flat ground engagement bottom  26  with respective vertical sides  27  and end  28 . The end  28  has a wall engagement flange  29  extending in offset relation thereto forming a wall notch engagement channel  30  therein so as to be registerably engaged within and over the respective front wall notches  23  and  24 , as best seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. 
     In use, the appliance (refrigerator) indicated by wheel W is moved temporarily and the pan portion  11  is positioned in its place. A drain line DL shown in broken lines may be attached thereto, as noted. Additionally, an optional moisture sensor MS shown in broken lines can be placed within the pan portion to indicate the presence of moisture, if needed, in specific application purposes. 
     Each of the access ramps  12  and  13  are fitted over the corresponding aligned notches  23  and  24  temporarily securing them to the pan portion  11  forming a level abutting surface with the elevated platforms  21  and  22  respective flat upper surface  21 A and  22 A. This orientation of engagement of the respective ramps  12  and  13  over the front wall  14 , notches  23  and  24  assures a smooth and barrier free pathway for the wheeled appliance (represented by the wheel W in broken lines) to be rolled up the respective ramp transition onto the upper surfaces of the platforms so as to be positioned. 
     Once positioned on the platforms  21  and  22 , the ramps  12  and  13  are removed and stored for future use. 
     The appliance (refrigerator) indicated by wheel W is now safely positioned within the pan portion  11  providing a safe secure water containment pan  10  of the invention. The pan portion  11  and the respective identical access ramps  12  and  13  may be molded from synthetic resin or its equivalent and are to be of a structure sufficient in strength to support and maintain the elevated appliance in its position on the respective platforms. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel water collection pan for appliances has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5