Patent ID: 6869526

Claim:
In a storm drain having an open top catch basin and a grate that covers the open top catch basin, a filter apparatus comprising: (a) a filter cage that defines an open central conduit that passes unobstructed through said filter cage, said filter cage comprising: (i) a first portion having an upper end and a lower end; (ii) a second portion of sloped water-permeable walls attached to said upper end of the first portion and extending upwardly and outwardly toward said grate; (iii) a mesh support extending outwardly from said lower end of said first portion to form a filter pocket that extends around said first portion between said sloped walls and said mesh support; (b) a filter cartridge positioned within said filter pocket and supported by said filter cage encircling at least a portion of said open central conduit; and (c) suspension elements connected to said grate and said cage that suspend said filter cage below said grate, wherein said filter apparatus is configured such that water entering from around the periphery of the grate flows through said sloped walls to be filtered through said filter cartridge, and during flood conditions excess water flows along said sloped walls and through said open central conduit bypassing said filter cartridge.