Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: RAIN BARREL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rain barrels, and
in particular to certain improvements to rain barrels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rain barrels are again being considered as a
valuable source of water, which can be used for watering of
a garden or lawn. Many municipalities have now recognized
that the demand for water is extremely high during dry
summer months. Furthermore, many existing and planned
developments have been designed to channel surface water to
a collection system (i.e. sanitary sewer system, storm
sewer system or a combined system) with only a small
portion of this water being absorbed by the soil.
In some urban developments downspouts are directly
connected with the sewer system. This causes unnecessary
high loading on the sewer system and eliminates the more
desirable natural run-off if this water was discharged on a
lawn. Many municipalities are now requiring that
downspouts discharge the water onto the lawn rather than
via a direct connection with the sewer system. In most
cases, this significantly reduces or delays the loading
placed on the sewer system and is more effective, as
typically the ground can use the water.
Rain barrels have certainly been used in the past
to conserve water and are now receiving further
consideration as a partial solution to provide convenient
water storage that can be managed by the user.
To receive significant adoption, rain barrels must
be safe, convenient to use and allow the user to more
effectively carry out certain outdoor household tasks which
require water.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A rain vessel for retaining rain water, according
to the present invention, comprises a container closed at
the top thereof by a lid, with the lid including a large
port closed by a removable recessed catch basin suspended
from the lid. The catch basin includes an outlet
arrangement through which water entering the catch basin
passes through to enter the container.
According to an aspect of the invention, the outlet
arrangement includes a series of ports in the bottom of the
catch basin.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the ports are covered by a screening thereacross.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the removable catch basin is generally rectangular and has
a hinge along one side thereof for pivotting movement
through an angle of about 180 to fully expose the port in
the lid and provide convenient access to the rain vessel.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the hinge is a loose hinge and allows at least about 10 of
movement perpendicular to the hinge direction. This
movement allows shifting of the catch basin during
pivotting thereof to avoid the downspout edge which can
partially overhang the catch basin.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the rain vessel includes a wash basin that can freely pass
through the port and can be supported by the lid.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the wash basin is sized for receipt and support in the
catch basin. In this way, the wash basin can be filled
with water supported in the catch basin and a user can then
clean certain implements, whereafter the water can either
be separately discharged or returned to the rain barrel.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention,
the catch basin includes a tether string arrangement
attached to one side of the catch basin opposite the hinge
to restrict movement of the catch basin. The tether string
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cooperates with a tether port in said lid, with the tether
string having a distal end releasably secured to the
vessel. The catch basin, when the tether string is secured
to the vessel, is fixed within the lid and the catch basin
is only movable about the hinge when the tether string is
released from the vessel.
The large port provided in the lid of the container
is of an area of about one foot square or larger and is
sized to allow a watering can to easily pass therethrough.
In this way, a user can open the rain barrel by pivotting
of the catch basin, exposing the port such that the
watering can may pass through the port and be filled in the
rain barrel by direct immersion in the water contained
therein. This provides a very fast alternative for filling
of containers, such as a watering can or a pail. Other
arrangements have used valves adjacent the base of the
container, possibly with a hose attached thereto, whereby
the valve can be opened and the container filled. This can
be a time-consuming process, particularly when the head of
water within the vessel is not that high. Direct immersion
reduces these problems.
The large port also allows easy access to the
interior of the barrel for periodic cleaning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in
the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rain barrel
positioned to receive water discharged from a downspout;
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view showing the
relationship of the lid of the rain vessel and the
downspout;
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view showing the
catch basin provided in the lid of the vessel in an open
position to allow access to water in the rain vessel;
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Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the catch
basin in a closed position and receiving water from the
downspout;
Figure 5 is a partial perspective view showing a
wash basin sized for receipt in the catch basin; and
Figure 6 shows the wash basin fully received within
the catch basin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The rain vessel, generally shown as 2 in the
Figures, is closed to stop the entry of animals or other
objects into the container 4. The lid 6 effectively closes
the top of the container 4 and includes a large port 7 in
the lid. The rain vessel is typically placed beneath a
downspout 8 and receives collected water through the
downspout discharge opening 10. The water is received
within a recessed catch basin 12. The bottom 14 of the
catch basin 12 includes a series of catch basin ports 16.
Water from the downspout is directed to the catch basin 12,
which does a coarse filtering of the water prior to the
water entering the container 4 through the series of catch
basin ports 16.
Various arrangements can be used for providing this
coarse filtering; for example, as the series of ports 16
can include groupings of very small ports whereby large
objects or debris are retained in the catch basin. The
preferred method is to provide a series of somewhat larger
ports 16 in the bottom of the catch basin and then to use a
fibreglass screening provided on the bottom of the catch
basin, as generally shown in Figure 3 and the sectional
view of Figure 4. It also serves to keep insects out of
the barrel.
It can be appreciated that any leaves which enter
the catch basin are retained therein and these leaves can
easily be removed from the catch basin merely by releasing
the catch basin and pivotting about the hinge 40 to the
position as shown in Figure 3. Any accumulated leaves or
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other debris will be discharged from the catch basin due to
the pivotting movement of the catch basin through
approximately 180 where it is, to a large extent, clear of
the container.
It can be seen in Figure 3 that the hinged movement
of the catch basin, which exposes the large port 7 in the
lid, is also used to allow access to the water 44
accumulated in the rain vessel 2. The watering can 50 can
pass through the port 7 for direct immersion within the
water contained in the rain vessel. This provides a very
rapid method for filling of the watering can and is not
dependent upon the pressure due to the head of water within
the rain vessel. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the
rain vessel 2 does include a drain valve 24 provided near
the base of the vessel. This drain valve may have a short
length of garden hose on the end thereof to allow filling
of containers. If desired, the rain vessel of the present
invention can still operate in this manner, however,
because the head of water within the container is not that
high, the discharge pressure of the hose is not that great.
The direct immersion described above is therefore more
convenient and time-efficient.
As with other rain vessels, the present design does
include an overflow tube 22. When sufficient water has
accumulated within the rain vessel, any further water
passes out the overflow tube 22 and is discharged on the
ground. It can be appreciated that the outlet 22 can be
connected to piping or a trough for distribution at a
position other than directly below the rain vessel.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a simple tethering
arrangement for retaining the catch basin 12 in the closed
position shown in Figures 1 and 2. A tether string 26 is
attached to the catch basin 12 on the rim 25 of the catch
basin at an edge opposite the hinge 40. The tether string
passes through a tether port 32 adjacent an edge of the lid
and then across the front of the rain vessel. The tether
string can also pass under the lid and still function as
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described. The distal end of the tether string includes a
tether ring 28, which cooperates with a retaining member 30
secured to either the container vessel or the lid. The
ring merely hooks over the retaining member 30 and is
retained thereon. In order to gain access to the interior
of the rain barrel, the ring 28 must be removed from the
retaining member 30. As can be seen from Figure 3, there
is then sufficient string to allow the catch basin to
assume the fully open position of Figure 3. This provides
a very simple child proof arrangement to improve the safety
of the rain barrel. The tether ring 28 is oversized
relative to the tether port 32, and therefore, cannot pass
therethrough.
Figure 4 also shows how a partial shelf 52 can be
provided in the rain barrel. It can either be directly
secured to the container wall or could be suspended from
the lid in a manner not to restrict access to the
container. The purpose of the partial shelf is to support
watering cans, pails or the wash basin (which will
subsequently be described) at a raised position within the
rain barrel to provide convenient access. As can be
appreciated, when the catch basin 12 assumes the open
position of Figure 3, the user may then use a watering can
supported on the partial shelf 52. He would merely grab
the watering can and then immerse it within the water 44.
On the other hand, the watering can could merely be
supported at the base of the rain vessel, but this requires
a somewhat longer reach.
The catch basin in the closed position of Figure 4
also allows the user to realize when the barrel is full.
In this case, a small amount of water will accumulate
within the catch basin over and above the catch basin
bottom 14. Any further water, however, will still be
discharged through the overflow tube 22.
To simplify the manufacture of the catch basin, the
fibreglass screening 20 can cover the entire underside of
the catch basin 12 and be secured at the sides thereof.
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Also, it is preferred to keep the ports in the bottom of
the catch basin somewhat small to reduce the likelihood of
overstressing the screening. Preferably, there are
approximately 12 holes with a diameter of about 5/8 inch,
suitably spaced across the bottom of the catch basin. The
netting filters the water and also prevents insects from
entering the rain vessel. The holes are sufficiently small
to maintain the structural rigidity of the catch basin
bottom and thereby prevent the weight of a child or small
mammal from breaking through the catch basin. Also, the
catch basin is supported from the lid by the rim portion,
which similarly distributes the load to the lid about the
port.
The wash basin 60, shown in Figure 5, is nestable
within the catch basin 12 and allows a further use of the
rain barrel. For example, the user can take the wash basin
60 from the interior of the rain barrel, either in an empty
state or in a partially filled state. If it is removed in
the empty state, a watering can, for example, could be
immersed in the water and filled and then removed from the
rain vessel. The wash basin can then be removed from the
rain vessel and inserted in the catch basin. The wash
basin can then be filled with water from the watering can.
The wash basin then provides a convenient tub for cleaning
of garden instruments, cleaning the user's hands or other
equipment or for other uses, or can be separately carried
to articles to be cleaned, such as a lawn mower or garden
equipment. The wash basin, when inserted in the catch
basin, allows the top of the rain barrel to serve as a
counter with a sink. The water in the wash basin may
either be directly discharged or can be returned to the
rain barrel, if desired.
The hinge 40 is defined by a series of hinge straps
42 which pass through ports in the lid and ports in the rim
of the catch basin. This hinge arrangement allows for some
lateral movement of the catch basin once it starts the
hinging action. This is particularly convenient, as the
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catch basin 12 preferably has one edge slightly beneath the
downspout 8 and the lateral movement allows the user to
pull the catch basin to one side, and thus, clear the lower
edge of the downspout. This provides a very simple cost
effective arrangement for providing a hinge while also
allowing the catch basin to partially underlie the
downspout 8.
The hinge straps 40 form a closed loop of an
adjustable size. The straps can lock at any of a plurality
of locations as required. For example, if a large degree
of lateral movement is required, the loop size can be
large. In other cases where little lateral movement is
required, the loop size can be small. Lateral movement of
up to about 30 degrees is practical.
The lateral movement of the hinge can also be used
as part of a child resisting closure for the catch basin.
In this case, the hinge straps are set up to maintain the
catch basin in a generally centered position within the
port. The port 7 is oversized along one edge to allow a
lateral shift of the non-secured end of the catch basin of
about one inch with the hinge providing a bias to return to
the centered position. A key member is provided on the
outside of the catch basin which aligns with a key slot in
the lid when the one end of the catch basin is
appropriately laterally shifted against the hinge bias. In
this position, the catch basin can hinge upwardly as shown
in Figure 3. In the centered position, the key underlies
the lid and the catch basin is basically locked in the
closed position. Preferably, the key includes a cam
surface which engages the key slot when the catch basin is
moved to the closed position which overcomes the hinge bias
to allow the key to pass through ~he key slot and lock
beneath the lid. The catch basin rim can be oversized to
conceal the oversized port and the key slot. Furthermore,
the catch basin itself could be made of plastic material
which could undergo minor deformation to avoid the hinge
providing the bias force.
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From the above, it is clear that other child
resistant safety latches can be used.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
