Abstract:
The invention relates to a filter system for placement within a storm drain having a treater for treating water that flows into the storm drain, at least one bracket extending in a generally lateral direction from the treater for supporting the treater within the storm drain, and a director proximate to the at least one bracket for directing water toward the treater. The director has a generally vertical member perpendicular to the at least one bracket and a generally horizontal member extending from the generally vertical member toward the treater.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a filtration system and support for filters. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Storm drains placed in surfaces, such as streets and sidewalks, are often for draining water. However, because the water may contain debris and contaminants, the water may be treated before being placed back into the ocean or other bodies of water. For example, while drainage systems collect and direct rainwater and runoff to underground storm sewers to prevent flooding of streets, in some geographic regions, this untreated water is drained directly into the ocean not far from public beaches. Until relatively recently, it was not well appreciated that even residential runoff water can be highly contaminated and may pose serious threats to the environment and public health. 
         [0003]    Typical storm drainage systems include drain inlets placed in streets and roadways and adjacent sidewalks. The drain inlet is commonly equipped with a removable iron grate that covers at least a portion of the inlet. In addition to providing a safety means, for example to prevent small children and animals from falling into the drain opening, the grate element is designed to prevent some of the relatively larger debris and trash items, such as tree branches, large paper or plastic containers, from entering the storm drain inlet. However, substantial volumes of relatively smaller trash items and debris, including lawn clippings, leaves, empty beverage containers, paper and plastic wrappers and the like, typically pass into storm drains despite use of iron grates. These items may eventually cause clogging of the drainage system if not periodically removed. In addition, such iron grates have been found to be ineffective in preventing gradual accumulation of solid materials that enter the drain inlet through open spaces between edges of the drain inlet and a perimeter of the grate element, such as in the opening in the curb. 
         [0004]    Some assemblies have been developed for filtering a water flow entering drain system inlets. For example, a screen or other porous element may be placed below the grate element to collect smaller trash and debris. However, such systems are prone to becoming clogged with debris, thereby obstructing water flow into the storm drain. In addition, such assemblies have not been designed for screening relatively slow water flows into the drain inlet. A particularly slow water flow will often bypass the assembly entirely by seeping through unfiltered areas between edges of the assembly and the drain inlet, such as the curb opening. 
         [0005]    Moreover, such periods of low water flow, especially following a relatively long “dry spell” tend to bring highly contaminated runoff water into the drains. This is due to long term accumulation of oils, automobile fluids, dust, dirt, lawn pesticides and other contaminants in the gutter areas of residential and industrial streets. 
         [0006]    What is desired, therefore, is a filter system that inhibits debris of all sizes from entering a storm drain without increasing a likelihood of clogging. Another desire is a filter system that filters slow water flow as well as water that may otherwise go around traditionally designed filter systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a filter system that treats water without clogging. 
         [0008]    Another object is a filter system that catches water that circumvents traditionally design filter systems. 
         [0009]    These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a filter system for placement within a storm drain having a treater for treating water that flows into the storm drain, at least one bracket extending in a generally lateral direction from the treater for supporting the treater within the storm drain, and a director proximate to the at least one bracket for directing water toward the treater. The director has a generally vertical member perpendicular to the at least one bracket and a generally horizontal member extending from the generally vertical member toward the treater. 
         [0010]    In other embodiments, the filter system also has a funnel placed between the treater and the at least one bracket and the director, where the funnel slopes downwardly from the at least one bracket and the director for directing water toward the treater. In some of these embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from each of the at least one bracket toward the treater. In further embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from the director toward the treater. 
         [0011]    Optionally the filter system includes a front bracket opposite the director, wherein the front bracket has a generally vertical member generally perpendicular to the at least one bracket. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, a support for a filter system that is placed within a storm drain includes a first bracket and a second bracket, each extending laterally. The support also has a director with a generally horizontal member placed between the first and second brackets and a generally vertical member being generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal member, the first bracket, and the second bracket. The support further includes a funnel sloping downwardly from the first bracket, the second bracket, and the generally horizontal member and adapted to be attached to a treater. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the vertical member is adjustable in a horizontal direction relative to the horizontal member. In other embodiments, the horizontal member is adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the vertical member. 
         [0014]    Optionally, the support also has a treater attached to the funnel for treating water. In some of these embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from each of the at least one bracket toward the treater. In further embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from the director toward the treater. 
         [0015]    In yet another aspect of the invention, instead of the generally horizontal and generally vertical members of the director, a downwardly sloping member is placed between the first and second brackets where the sloping member is sloped toward the treater. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts the filter system in accordance with the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of the filter system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  more particularly depicts the director, funnel, and brackets shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  depicts another view of the director, funnel, and brackets shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIGS. 5-6   a  depict cross sectional views of the director, funnel, and brackets shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6   b  depicts a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the director, funnel, and brackets shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   b  depict adjustment of the director shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]      FIGS. 1-2  depict filter system  20  in accordance with the invention, including first bracket  30 , second bracket  40 , front bracket  50 , and director  60 , all of which are adapted to be attached to treater  22 . Treater  22  is any filter for treating the water and debris that enters storm drain  24  and includes any known or novel filter. 
         [0024]    First bracket  30  extends from treater  22  in a generally lateral direction, such as a generally horizontal direction, for supporting treater  22  within storm drain  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-6   b  and more particularly in  FIGS. 4-6   b,  first bracket  30  is attached to funnel  70  that in turn is attached to treater  22  via apertures  26 . For the purposes of simplicity, and because second bracket  40  has the same limitations as first bracket  30 , first bracket  30  will be described without referencing second bracket  40 . Additionally, director  60  and front bracket  50  are also attached to funnel  70  that in turn is attached to treater  22 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-6   b,  funnel  70  has at least one sloped member and, as shown, four sloped members  71 - 74  leading from first bracket  30 , director  60 , second bracket  40 , and front bracket  50 , respectively, toward treater  22 . Because storm drain  24  is generally of a standard size or sizes, the dimensions of first bracket  30 , second bracket  40 , front bracket  50 , and director  60  may be determined before placing filter system  20  into storm drain  24 . In fact, filter system  20  may be manufactured or assembled in mass quantities for application to a variety of standard sized storm drains  24 . 
         [0026]    Moreover, since treater  22  known to be placed within storm drain  24 , it is generally smaller in length and width than storm drain  24 . Funnel  70  acts as an adapter to bridge the gap between the difference in size from first bracket  30 , second bracket  40 , front bracket  50 , and director  60  to treater  22 . Moreover, first through fourth sloped members  71 - 74  of funnel  70  are sloped so water and debris do not collect on funnel  70  but are directed toward treater  22 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, first bracket  30  and director  60  are directly attached to treater  22 , such as when treater  22  is in a larger size such that there is not need to have an adapter between first bracket  30 , second bracket  40 , director  60 , and front bracket  50  to treater  22 . Funnel  70  or the adapter is obviated when the slope of first, second, third, or fourth members  71 - 74  would be near vertical. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , storm drain  24  includes curb opening  25  as well as street opening  27  and water and debris may enter either or both. When water and debris enter through street opening  27 , they generally fall between first and second brackets  30 ,  40  and enter treater  22 . When water and debris enter curb opening  25 , they may not enter between first and second brackets  30 ,  49  and therefore may bypass treater  22 . To guard against this, director  60  is placed within curb opening  25  and includes generally vertical member  62  and generally horizontal member  64 , both of which are for directing water and debris toward treater  22 . As described above, generally horizontal member  64  of director  60  is attached to funnel  70  that in turn is attached to treater  22 . In this fashion, water and debris enters curb opening  25 , comes in contact with either vertical member  62  or horizontal member  64 , both of which in turn are attached to second sloped member  72  which leads the water and debris toward treater  22 . In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6   b,  director  60  has a sloped member  66 , which replaces the vertical and horizontal members  62 ,  64 . Moreover, horizontal member  64  or sloped member  66  can provide a secondary benefit to assist first bracket  30  and second bracket  50  in supporting treater  22 . In this effort, director  60  is in contact with shoulder  86  of storm drain  24  in addition to first and second brackets  30 ,  40 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , first bracket  30  is fabricated from the same piece of material as first sloped member  71 . Similarly, director  60  is fabricated from the same unit of material as second sloped member  72 . The same is true for second bracket  40  and third sloped material  73  as well as front bracket  50  and fourth sloped material  74 . In further embodiments, first bracket  30  and director  60  are each an L shaped bracket or angle iron secured to first sloped member  71  and second sloped member  72 , respectively. 
         [0030]    In the embodiments when funnel  70  is not needed, angle irons or L brackets are particularly beneficial since fabrication is minimized and they would be directly attached to treater  22 . 
         [0031]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6   b,  18 gauge  304  stainless steel is used to fabricate funnel  70 , first bracket  30 , second bracket  40 , front bracket  50 , and director  60  because it resists oxidation and is thin enough such that grate  82  is not raised or is negligibly raised due to the thickness of first bracket  30 , second bracket  40 , front bracket  50 , and director  60  placed between grate  82  and shoulder  86  of storm drain  24 . Typically, the thickness of first bracket  30 , second bracket  40 , front bracket  50 , and director  60  are usually less than or equal to approximately ⅛ inch. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7   a - 7   b,  director  60  is adjustable in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. As shown, first horizontal piece  61  of horizontal member  64  is slidingly engaged with second piece  63  of horizontal member  64 . As shown, second horizontal piece  63  slides relative to first horizontal piece  61  from the position shown in  FIG. 7   a  to the position shown in  FIG. 7   b  where slot  88  and stud or bolt  84  permit securement of the two horizontal pieces anywhere along the length of slot  88 . A nut placed on stud  84  permits the securement when the nut is screwed downwardly to bind the two horizontal pieces together. 
         [0033]    Also as shown, top vertical piece  65  of vertical member  62  is slidingly engaged with bottom vertical piece  67  of vertical member  62 . As shown, top vertical piece  65  slides upwardly or downwardly relative to bottom vertical piece  67  from the positions shown in  FIG. 7   a  to the position shown in  FIG. 7   b.  Once a position is chosen, a user then installs fastener  89 , such as a nail, bolt, clamp, or rivet through the two vertical pieces. In other embodiments, an adhesive is used in addition to or instead of fastener  89  or nut and stud  84 . 
         [0034]    As shown, vertical member  62  is adjustable in a horizontal direction relative to horizontal member  64  and horizontal member  64  is adjustable in a vertical direction relative to vertical member  62 . 
         [0035]    It is understood that top and bottom vertical pieces  65 ,  67  may also slide in a horizontal direction relative to one another. This permits the two vertical pieces optimum flexibility to fit within storm drains  24  of non-standard size. It is also understood that the adjustments for top and bottom vertical pieces  65 ,  67  include the limitations of first and second horizontal pieces  61 ,  63 . Likewise, the adjustments for first and second horizontal pieces  61 ,  63  include the limitations of top and bottom vertical pieces  65 ,  67 .