Abstract:
Improvements in conservation and collection of water that gray water that normally is washed down a drain is disclosed. The conservation tool is a side pipe or “T” that allows water with minimal or no heavy solids to flow out the side pipe. The side pipe exists above a water trap at a height that is about the top of the trap. Heavy materials will fall straight down the trap but only fairly clear fluids will stay above the trap and flow down the side pipe. The side pipe is connected with a hose to a reservoir holding tank. A valve is manually operable to stop any flow into the reservoir. The reservoir is removable for use to feed plants or grass with the collected gray water.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional 61/253,729 filed Oct. 21, 2009 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    This invention relates to improvements in collection and conservation of water. More particularly, the present invention allows for collection of gray water that would normally flow down a drain. A side pipe is attached at or near a drains&#39; trap to allow fairly clean (gray) overflow water to flow into a collection reservoir that can be used to water plants and the like. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0008]    A number of patents have been issued that provide sinks, collection vessels, valves and collapsible bottles. Exemplary examples of patents that have been issued that address some of these components are identified and discussed below. While various pieces are shown, none of them show or describe collecting only the relatively clean a portion flow down a drain. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,456 issued Nov. 24, 1992 to Richard F. Woolman discloses a Diverter Apparatus and method For Saving Fresh Water. This method involves diverting water from a faucet or shower while hot water is filling the line. The water that is being collected is pure drinking water. The conservation is not water that would be undrinkable. While this patent discloses the collection of water that would normally be washed down the drain, the water being collected has no contaminations and is being collected at the supply as opposed to the drain line of a sink. The present application can be used with this patent to provide additional water savings and conservation. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,196 issued Aug. 7, 1973 to Donald William Halferty and U.S. Pat. No. 7,401,286 issued October 28, 2008 to Alice Lenora Parker both disclose Waste Water Holding Systems where all of the water from a drain is collected for later disposal. While these products collect all of the water, the collection is for temporary holding within a container, and due to the solids that are collected within the container the collected fluid is later disposed of or otherwise discarded without conservation. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,392 issued May 19, 1981 to John Hayes discloses a Disposable Plastic Trap Bag. The trap bag again collects all of the fluid that drains from a sink. The predominant item that is collected within the bag is solids or semi-solids that are heavier than water. The solid material collects in the bottom of the bag and the bag is simply removed from the holding bucket for later disposal. While this patent discloses a holding bag, the collected material is not usable for watering or other uses, and mostly contains heavier that water materials. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,877 issued Apr. 2, 1963 to W. K. Gash, U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,887 issued Feb. 24, 1976 to Thomas J. Scarnato and U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,068 discloses collapsible containers. These collapsible containers are for changing the amount of material or fluid that can be held within the container. While these patents are adjustable to change the amount of volume that is held within the containers, these containers are not intended to change their size (not volume) to match the drain height from a drain and they further lack handles for easy transportation or a check valve to prevent an overflow condition. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,597 issued Apr. 15, 1980 to Ed P. Tomes discloses a Water Recycling with Solids and Foam Removal. While this patent discloses a collection reservoir, the collection is to separate solids and foam from water that is sent down a drain. Any conservation of water is also washed down the drain. This patent is mostly for conservation of the sewage from a house and there is little or no conservation of the water. 
         [0014]    What is needed is a collection reservoir that can be installed under most sinks to collect gray water that can later be used to water plants and the like. The proposed application provides this solution with a simple device that simply requires a change to the drain pipe of house, condo or apartment. The change to the drain pipe allows for only fairly clear water to be collect while solids or semi-solids are washed down the drain. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    It is an object of the sink drain water collector to collect relatively clean gray water that would normally be washed down the drain of a sink. Typically the water that is useful for watering plants or for other purposes that does not require the same level of purity often remains above the heavier water that contains contamination and heavier solids. One of the main goals of this water collector is to separate the relatively clean water while letting more contaminated water wash down a drain. 
         [0016]    It is an object of the sink drain water collector for the water collector to be relatively simple in construction and installation. The separation of gray water is from the replacement of a sink drain pipe with a similar sink drain pipe having a side T that is connected to a flex drain hose. The location of the side pipe or T is about the same height as the drain line located after the P trap or elbow. This location is ideal for allowing mostly clean and clear gray water to be collected. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the sink drain water collector to have a removable storage tank or reservoir. The reservoir is connected to the flexible drain hose. The reservoir allows for both the collection and delivery of the water to plants. Based upon the user preference the volume of the reservoir can be adjustable to change the amount of water that is collected as also the weight of the reservoir that the user can carry to water plants. The height or volume of the reservoir is also adjustable to reduce back washing fluid out of the reservoir. 
         [0018]    It is still another object of the sink drain water collector to include a fill shut off valve to eliminate the potential of the reservoir being over filled and pouring excessive amounts of gray water under a cabinet. The shut off valve can also be closed with a user removes the reservoir for watering plants. This allows the sink to still be used when the reservoir is removed. 
         [0019]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the sink drain collector. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective cross sectional view of the drain components. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the reservoir in the extended orientation with the cap installed. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the reservoir with the marking indicia. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the reservoir in the compressed orientation with the cap removed. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of the opening of the reservoir. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a side sectional view of the opening of the reservoir. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the filling cap for the reservoir. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of the filling cap. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  shows an isometric exploded view of the filling cap that is shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  shows an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of the reservoir. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  shows a top and bottom view of the filler head. 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  shows a top and bottom view of the lower cap. 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  shows a top and bottom view of the threaded cap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the sink drain collector. The sink drain collector can be a direct replacement to the drain plumbing of a standard sink. An existing drain trap is removed and the assembly of components is placed in approximately the same location as the previous trap. An existing sink drain pipe is passed down through coupling fitting  22  and seal  21  where the coupling fitting  22  is threaded  10  into the down pipe  11  that includes a water trap that prevents or traps odors from the sewer from venting up through the drain. The down pipe  11  has a side connection or “T” that is located above the dip  12  of the down pipe. The location of the side pipe or “T” connection  20  will change the amount and type of fluid that is collected or drained from fluid that comes from an attached sink. In the preferred embodiment the location of the side pipe or “T” is about the location of the water flow line  35  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0035]    Water that would normally flow down the down pipe  11  would pass below the dip  12  and through the trough  13 , through the back elbow  15  where the trap is coupled, with a coupling nut  16 , to an elbow having a crown  17  and a drain pipe  18  that connects to the sewer or other drains. The threads of a side connection  20 , are located is the side of the down pipe for connection with a side pipe or “T”. 
         [0036]    The threads  34  of a fitting  33  that has saw toothed edged are threaded into the side of the down pipe  11 . A first end  31  of a flexible pipe  30  is secured onto the saw toothed edges of the fitting  33 . The saw toothed edged both grip the flexible pipe  30  and seal the flexile pipe  30  to prevent leakage. While saw toothed edges are shown and described in one or more locations in this preferred embodiment other common methods of connecting a flexible or rigid pipes or hoses together are contemplated. The fitting or side connection  33  can have a variable size opening where the opening size is adjustable by altering the side of the flow though hole or orifice. Changing the size of the flow through orifice will also change the height of the water level that is required for water to flow into the flexible tube or pipe  30 . 
         [0037]    The second end  32  of the flexible pipe  30  is secured to the saw toothed fitting  43  on a water reservoir or tank  50 . The tank or reservoir  50  collects gray water that drains from above the trap, through the flexible hose  30  and into the fitting  43 . In the preferred embodiment, the tank or reservoir  50  has a handle  41  for easier transportation of the tank or reservoir  50 . While a particular handle  41  is shown and described the configuration and existence of the handle is variable. In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir  50  is configured with accordion or expandable pleat  42  type side walls to allow the height size and volume of the reservoir to be adjusted. The adjustment also allows the location of the fitting  43  to be adjustable to reduce the possibility that any collected gray water from back washing into the side pipe or “T” connection  20 . A cap or lid  40  allows fluid that flows through the flexible hose  30  to enter the tank or reservoir  50 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective cross sectional view of the drain components. This cross sectional view shows fluid within the drain pipe and gives approximate locations of the relationship of the fluid level to the drain locations. This embodiment also show the trap with a trap drain  14  and a plug  19  that is useful to clear the drain of heavy objects, jewelry or other objects that may be too heavy to be washed out of the trough  13 . As previously described, a sink drain pipe is coupled to the threaded  10  into the down pipe  11 . The down pipe  11  has a side connection or “T” that is located above the dip  12  of the down pipe. The location of the side pipe or “T” connection  20  is fixed and prototypes have been made with the location of the side pipe or “T” at various locations relative to the “Over” or drain height  36 . The water flow line  35  shows one contemplated height of the side pipe or “T” relative to the flow point of the drain pipe  18 . Water that flows down the down pipe  11  pass below the dip  12  and through the trough  13 , through the back elbow  15  where the trap is coupled, with a coupling nut  16 , to the elbow having a crown  17  and a drain pipe  18  that connects to the sewer or other drains. The fitting  34  threads into the side port or “T”  20  to a flexible hose or pipe that is attached to fitting  33 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the reservoir  50  in the extended orientation with the cap  40  installed. Based upon the user preference the volume of the reservoir  50  can be adjustable by expanding the pleats  45  to change the amount of water that is collected as also the weight of the reservoir  50  that the user can carry, using the handle  41 , to water plants. The height or volume of the reservoir  50  is also adjustable to reduce back washing fluid out of the reservoir  50 . This figure shows the side marking indicia  44  that notifies the user that the water is not drinkable. The filling cap  40  is shown on the reservoir  50  with the fitting  43  that connects to the flexible hose. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the reservoir with the marking indicia. The indicia shown in this figures is only one contemplated embodiment. Various markings or indicia  44  are contemplated that will notify and warn a user that the water is not for human consumption. It is further contemplated that the reservoir can be colored to provide identification that the water is not drinkable. One contemplated color is purple that is commonly used to identify non-potable or plant water. In this view the top view also shows a carrying handle  41  and a closed cap  51  that seals the reservoir so it will not spill if tipped over. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the reservoir in the compressed orientation with the cap removed to show the fill hole  60 . The pleats  45  are all compressed in this figure to make the lowest volume for the reservoir. The number of pleats as well as an absence of all pleats is contemplated to satisfy the function of storing water within the reservoir. Additional details on filling hole are shown and describe with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of the opening of the reservoir.  FIG. 7  shows a side sectional view of the opening of the reservoir  50 . The fill hole opening  60  of the reservoir  50  has flow guides  61  that are placed on the sides of the fill hole opening  60 . These flow guides  61  help channel the water that is being poured out of the reservoir  50  to reduce splashing of the fluid. In the preferred embodiment the flow guides  61  serve the purpose to turn  80 , utilizing ears  81  (From  FIGS. 8 and 10 ), when the filler cap  40  is twisted onto the reservoir  50 . When the filler cap  40  is inserted onto the reservoir  50  and twisted a quarter turn, openings  48  and  82  align thereby allowing gray water to flow into the reservoir. When the cap  40  is rotated and removed the openings are not aligned and the valve is closed. Angled side threads are located on the sides of the fill hole opening  60  for the cap or lid (not shown) to be threaded onto the reservoir to securely close the opening of the reservoir. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the filling cap for the reservoir. This exploded view show one contemplated embodiment of various components and how the components look and interconnect.  FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of the filling cap and  FIG. 10  shows an isometric exploded view of the filling cap that is shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0044]    The head  70  has the saw tooth fitting  43  where the flexible tube is connected (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The bottom of the head has an extended flange  71 . A gasket  72  seals the bottom of the head onto the fill cap  40 . The filler cap  40  has an opening  46  located on the upper portion  73  where water flows from the fitting  43  and into the filler cap  40 . A gasket recess  42  seals the head onto the top of the filler cap  40 . A keeper  74  located on top of the filler cap  40  retains the head on the filler cap. The filler cap  40  has an internal passage from the opening  46  to the exit  48  located on the lower portion  49  of the filler cap. Markings on the filler cap  40  allows the user to open and close the filler cap to open or stop flow into the reservoir. An O-ring or gasket  75  creates a seal between the fill cap  40  (or closed cap  51 ) and the reservoir. The cap  40  is shown with a plurality of ears  39  on the peripheral circumference of the filler cap. These ears make it easier for a user to grasp open and close the filler cap on the reservoir. While pa particular size, shape and number of ears  39  are shown, a vast number of ears  39 , shapes of ears  39  and absence of ears are contemplated. 
         [0045]    A lower cap  80  closes the bottom of the lower portion with a ball float  76  that prevents overfilling of the reservoir. When the water level of within the reservoir get too high the water level will lift the ball float  76  within the lower cap  80  and block flow through the lower portion  49  and into the reservoir through the opening  82  in the lower cap  80 . A pair of ears  81  on the lower cap  80  allows an operator to tighten or loosen the lower cap  80  on the lower portion  49 . The lower cap  80  has a top opening  84  that is secured onto the lower portion  49 . Gray water can flow through the top opening  84  and out the bottom opening  85  as long as the flow is not being blocked by the ball float  76 . When the cap  40  is removed the float ball  76  will seat in opening  85  ( FIG. 10 ). Lower cap  80  slides over the lower portion  49  and is locked in place thereby giving the float ball  76  a confined chamber to move up and down. 
         [0046]      FIG. 11  shows an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of the reservoir  50  where the filling connection  43  can be located on the top, the valve  40  can then be closed and the reservoir set on a side to provide access to the lifting handle  41 . 
         [0047]    Greater details of these components are shown in  FIGS. 9 to 14 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 12  shows a top and bottom view of the filler head.  FIG. 13  shows a top and bottom view of the lower cap.  FIG. 14  shows a top and bottom view of the threaded cap. The item numbers are consistent in all these view and the views should be looked at collectively with the written description to better understand how they interact. 
         [0049]    Thus, specific embodiments of a sink drain water collector have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.