Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
INLINE DRAINABLE CONDUIT COUPLER
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates to electrical conduits, and, in
particular, to a
coupler for allowing a liquid to drain from a length of conduit.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Building codes, technical manuals and utility companies often
insist or
recommend that electrical connector wires servicing a building via an
underground path be
brought to the meter base enclosure through a solid conduit. The meter base
enclosure is
generally provided as sealed enclosure mounted to a wall of the building and
from there an
electrical connection is made to a breaker or fuse panel located within the
building.
Electrical wires servicing, generally a utility company-operated powerline,
such that power
can be supplied to the building are encased in a conduit from the source, to
the meter base
where the meter base has electrical connections located within the meter base
enclosure.
For example, a conduit carrying the servicing wires may come from a
transformer or
straight from the electrical power grid to service a meter base enclosure or
in larger
buildings to an electrical room.
[0003] A problem can arise in underground electrical distribution in
that water can
sometimes leach into the conduit. The leaching of water into a conduit can be
particularly
problematic in hilly or wetter climates where the lowest point of the conduit
is located
below the elevation of a servicing manhole or electric utility distribution
box. Thus, water
accumulates in the conduit housing around the electrical service wire. In
certain situations,
based on the elevation of the meter base enclosure relative to the servicing
manhole or
electric company distribution box, water which has leached into the conduit
may remain
stagnant and accumulate in the conduit, leading to an undesirable situation
where of a
portion of an electrical wire is submersed in water, or in an extreme
situation, water
entering a building through the meter base enclosure and bore through the wall
of a
building. In such a situation, water may thus come into contact with an
electrically-charged
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bus bar of a fuse or breaker panel and lead to catastrophic problems and may
also flood a
building or electrical room.
[0004] Certain building codes, technical manuals, and utility companies
recommend or
require that the conduit be provided with a means to allow water to drain from
the conduit
such that issues, for example, as those noted above are ameliorated.
Currently, an electrical
professional is advised to obtain a fluid-transport-designed plumbing "T"-
fitting and
manually adapt such to work with electrical wire conduit to provide drainage.
The
electrical professional is advised to install the fitting at a low point in
the conduit, generally
immediately below the vertical conduit stack feeding the meter based, such
that water can
drain from the conduit into the weeping tile surrounding a building
foundation. Although
in some jurisdictions it may be against a building code, since meter base-
feeding wires and
the encasing conduit is generally buried, in addition to the hassle of
obtaining a possibly
ill-fitting adapted plumbing pipe component, certain electrical professionals
elect to not
prepare and adapt such a fitting and not install in the conduit, thus leaving
the conduit with
no means to drain water therefrom.
[0005] U.S. Patent Serial number 5,769,035 entitled "Conduit Drain for
Use in Non-
Hazardous Locations", issued August 18, 1998 to Patrick Walker, describes a
"T"-fitting
shaped draining for installation between two lengths of conduit. The "T"-
fitting has three
openings arrange about the ends of the "T" shape. Ends of the two lengths of
conduit are
received in two of the openings of the "T"-fitting located 90 degrees from
another. In
operation, the "T"-fitting with the conduit lengths coupled thereto is
arranged such that one
length of conduit is vertical and runs upward; the other length of conduit
running in a
horizontal orientation. The third opening of the "T"-fitting is thus oriented
downward. The
third opening is adapted to receive a hollow threaded coupling. The threaded
coupling,
about the end not received in the third opening, has reversibly located
thereon a
frustoconically-shaped sieve portion with a screen assembly and having a drain
aperture.
The frustoconically-shaped sieve portion is held in place on the threaded
coupling by an
end cap through which a portion of the frustoconically-shaped sieve portion
can depend,
thus forming the drain.
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[0006] However, the use a "T"-fitting adapted to provide a drain, or the
device
described in U.S. Patent Serial number 5,796,035, present certain problems
which may also
lead to non-compliance with building codes and technical manual
recommendations. For
example, due to the shape of the "T"-fitting, it can be very hard for an
electrical
professional to insert a fish tape through the conduit once a "T"-fitting is
installed and/or
pull a wire from the electrical distribution box through the conduit and up to
a meter base
enclosure, due to the sharp direction change of the conduit with the "T"-
fitting installed.
[0007] U.S. Patent Serial number 6,828,502 entitled "Fluid Release
System For
Secondary Conduit Extending Between a Transformer Housing and a Meter Box and
Method of Use", issued December 7, 2004 to Gregory Green, describes a fluid
release
system for removing water from conduits. The system includes a coupling
section of
conduit for location above the ground level in the vertical section of conduit
feeding the
meter base enclosure. The coupling section has an aperture covered by an
openable flap
hinged to pivot upwards, when installed, between an open position and a closed
position
so as to reversibly cover the aperture. The flap is opened to allow the egress
of water from
the conduit above the ground level when a certain amount of water is present
in the conduit.
[0008] However, the location of the openable flap in the system
described in U.S.
Patent Serial number 6,828,502 does not allow for the drainage of water from
the lowest
point in the conduit, below the ground level and may allow stagnant water to
accumulate
in the conduit.
100091 Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an alternative means,
which is easier
to fish a wire through, as a drainable section of electrical conduit for use
below ground
level. A pre-manufactured device provided for use with electrical conduit,
which is easier
to fish a wire therethrough may also promote more electrical professionals to
comply with
building codes and/or technical manual recommendations.
[0010] This background information is provided to reveal information
believed by the
applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission is necessarily intended,
nor should be
construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art or
forms part of the
general common knowledge in the relevant art.
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SUMMARY
[0011] The following presents a simplified summary of the general
inventive
concept(s) described herein to provide a basic understanding of some aspects
of the
disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is
not intended
to restrict key or critical elements of embodiments of the disclosure or to
delineate their
scope beyond that which is explicitly or implicitly described by the following
description
and claims.
[0012] A need exists for an electrical conduit drain that overcomes some
of the
drawbacks of known techniques, or at least, provides a useful alternative
thereto.
[0013] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an inline drainable
coupler for
intervening and coupling two sections of a conduit assembly. The inline
drainable coupler
comprises a coupler body having a lumen, a first coupler end region adapted
for
engagement and fluid communication with an end region of a first conduit
section and a
second coupler end region adapted for engagement and fluid communication with
an end
region of a second conduit section. The coupler body includes one or more
suitably sized
apertures for allowing the egress of a liquid from the lumen to external the
coupler body.
In some embodiments, the one or more apertures are provided along only one
longitudinal
half, or less, of the coupler body.
[0014] In some embodiments, the inline drainable coupler further
comprises one or
more screening members for inhibiting the ingress of debris into the lumen
through the
apertures. In some embodiments, the screening member is provided as a porous
fabric sheet
wrapped around and encasing the coupler body, whereas in other embodiments the
screening member may be provided as a porous fabric sheet wrapped around an
exterior
wall of the lumen of the coupler body or in addition to a screening member
wrapped around
and encasing the coupler body.
[0015] In some embodiments, the coupler body has a radiused bend. In
some
embodiments, the radiused bend is provided as substantially 45 degrees. In
some
embodiments, the radiused bend is provided as substantially 90 degrees.
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[0016] In
some embodiments, the one or more apertures may be provided as a
substantially circular bore and further embodiments, the one or more apertures
may be
sized between from about 0.1 cm to about 1.0 cm. In some embodiments the one
or more
apertures may be provided as a "V"-shape. In operation of the inline drainable
coupler, in
some embodiments, the "V"-shaped apertures may be provided and the inline
drainable
coupler installed intervening the first conduit section and the second conduit
section for
running a wire through the conduit assembly in the direction of the apex of
the "V".
[0017] In
some embodiments, the first and second coupler end regions may be provided
as female ends for receiving therein an end portion of the first conduit
section or the second
conduit section, respectively. In some embodiments, the first and second
coupler end
regions may be provided as male ends for being received in an end portion of
the first
conduit section or the second conduit section, respectively. In some further
embodiments,
the first coupler end region or second coupler end region may be provided as a
male end
or a female end for coupling to a complementary end of the first conduit
section or the
second conduit section, respectively. In some further embodiments, the first
coupler end
region and/or second coupler end region is threaded for threadably coupling to
a
complementary end of the first conduit section or the second conduit section,
respectively.
[0018] In
another aspect, there is provided a method for preventing liquid accumulation
in a conduit assembly. The method comprises:
providing an inline drainable coupler for intervening and coupling two
sections of
the conduit assembly, the inline drainable coupler comprising a coupler body
having a
lumen;
the coupler body having a first coupler end region adapted for engagement and
fluid communication with an end region of a first conduit section and a second
coupler end
region adapted for engagement and fluid communication with an end region of a
second
conduit section;
the coupler body having one or more suitably sized apertures for allowing the
egress of a liquid from the lumen to external the coupler body;
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installing the conduit assembly between an electrical distribution feed zone
and a
meter base enclosure; and
positioning the inline drainable coupler on a travel path between the
electrical
distribution feed zone and the meter base enclosure.
[0019] In some embodiments of the method, the inline drainable coupler is
positioned
near a low point on the travel path.
[0020] In some embodiments of the method, the inline drainable coupler
further
comprises one or more screening members for inhibiting the ingress of debris
into the
lumen through the apertures, as noted above.
[0021] In some embodiments of the method, the coupler body of the inline
drainable
coupler further comprises a radiused bend and the inline drainable coupler is
oriented such
that the radiused bend allows the first conduit section to be oriented upward
towards meter
base enclosure. In some embodiments of the method the radiused bend maybe
provided as
substantially 45 degrees and in other embodiments, the radiused bend may be
provided as
substantially 90 degrees.
[0022] In some embodiments of the method the one or more apertures may
be provided
as a substantially circular bore and further having a size between from about
0.1 cm to
about 1.0 cm. In some embodiments, the one or more apertures may be provided
as a "V"-
shape wherein the method further comprises the step of installing the inline
drainable
coupler intervening the first conduit section and the second conduit section
such that the
apex of the "V" of the one more "V"-shaped aperture is oriented the direction
of travel for
pulling a wire through the conduit assembly. Furthermore, in some embodiments,
the one
or more apertures are provided along only one longitudinal half of the coupler
body and
the method comprises the step of, during installation of the inline drainable
coupler,
orienting the one longitudinal half having the apertures downward.
[0023] In yet another aspect, there is provided a conduit assembly for
connection
between an electrical distribution feed zone and a meter base enclosure. The
assembly
comprises an inline drainable coupler for intervening and coupling between a
first conduit
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section and a second conduit section. The inline drainable coupler has a
coupler body
including a lumen and a first coupler end region and a second coupler end
region. The first
conduit section being provided for connecting the electrical distribution feed
zone to a first
coupler end region of the inline drainable coupler and the second conduit
section being
provided for connecting a second coupler end region of the inline drainable
coupler to the
meter base enclosure. The first and second coupler end regions being adapted
for
engagement and fluid communication with an end region of the first conduit
section or an
end region the second conduit section, respectively and the coupler body has
one or more
suitably sized apertures for allowing the egress of a liquid from the lumen to
external the
coupler body.
[0024] In some embodiments of the conduit assembly the inline drainable
coupler
further comprises one or more screening members for inhibiting the ingress of
debris into
the lumen through the apertures, as noted above. For example, the screening
member may
be provided as porous fabric sheet encasing the coupler body or lining the
lumen, or both,
in some embodiments.
[0025] In some embodiments of the conduit assembly the coupler body has
a radiused
bend. Furthermore, in some embodiments of the conduit assembly, the radiused
bend may
be provided as substantially 45 degrees and in other embodiments, the radiused
bend may
be provided as substantially 90 degrees.
[0026] In some embodiments of the conduit assembly the one or more
apertures may
be provided as a substantially circular bore having a size of between from
about 0.1 cm to
about 1.0 cm.
[0027] In some embodiments of the conduit assembly, the one or more
apertures may
be provided as a "V"-shape and in some embodiments, the apex of the "V"-shaped
apertures, when the inline drainable coupler is installed intervening the
first conduit section
and the second conduit section are oriented for running a wire through the
conduit assembly
in the direction of the apex of the "V".
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[0028] In some embodiments of the conduit assembly, the first and second
coupler end
regions may be provided as female ends for receiving therein an end portion of
the first
conduit section or the second conduit section, respectively. In some
embodiments, the first
and second coupler end regions may be provided as male ends for being received
in an end
portion of the first conduit section or the second conduit section,
respectively. In some
further embodiments, the first coupler end region or second coupler end region
may be
provided as male end or a female end for coupling to a complementary end of
the first
conduit section or the second conduit section, respectively. In some yet
further
embodiments, first coupler end region and/or second coupler end region may be
threaded
for threadably coupling to a complementary end of the first conduit section or
the second
conduit section, respectively.
[0029] In some embodiments of the conduit assembly, the one or more
apertures are
provided along only one longitudinal half, or less, of the coupler body and
when installed
are oriented downward.
[0030] Other aspects, features and/or advantages will become more apparent
upon
reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments
thereof, given
by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0031] Several embodiments of the present disclosure will be provided, by
way of
examples only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
[0032] Figure 1 is a side view of an exemplary environment showing the
inline
drainable coupler of the present disclosure;
[0033] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
inline
drainable coupler of the present disclosure;
[0034] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
inline
drainable coupler of the present disclosure coupled to sections of conduit;
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[0035] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
inline
drainable coupler of the present disclosure;
[0036] Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of
Figure 2;
[0037] Figure 6 is longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of
the inline drainable coupler of the present disclosure;
[0038] Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of
the inline drainable coupler of the present disclosure;
[0039] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
inline
drainable coupler of the present disclosure;
[0040] Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view along
line 9-9 of
Figure 8;
[0041] Figure 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
inline
drainable coupler of the present disclosure;
[0042] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the
inline
drainable coupler of the present disclosure showing a wire through the lumen;
[0043] Figure 12 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the inline
drainable
coupler where the coupler body has a radiused bend; and
[0044] Figure 13 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the inline
drainable
coupler where the coupler body has a radiused bend.
[0045] Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and
clarity and have
not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of
the elements
in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating
understanding
of the various presently disclosed embodiments. Also, common, but well-
understood
elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are
often not
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depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various
embodiments of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] Various implementations and aspects of the specification will be
described with
reference to details discussed below. The following description and drawings
are
illustrative of the specification and are not to be construed as limiting the
specification.
Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of
various
implementations of the present specification. However, in certain instances,
well-known or
conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise
discussion of
lo implementations of the present specification.
[0047] Various embodiments of the inline drainable coupler, as well as
associated
methods and systems will be described below to provide examples of
implementations of
the system disclosed herein. No implementation described below limits any
claimed
implementation and any claimed implementations may cover devices, methods or
systems
that differ from those described below. The claimed implementations are not
limited to
devices, methods or systems having all of the features of any one device,
method or systems
described below or to features common to multiple or all of the devices,
methods or systems
described below. It is possible that a device, method or system described
below is not an
implementation of any claimed subject matter.
[0048] Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a
thorough understanding of the implementations described herein. However, it
will be
understood by those skilled in the relevant arts that the implementations
described herein
may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-
known methods,
procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to
obscure the
implementations described herein.
[0049] In this specification, elements may be described as "configured
to" or "adapted
for" perform one or more functions or "configured for" or "adapted for" such
functions. In
general, an element that is configured or adapted to perform or configured or
adapted for
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performing a function is enabled to perform the function, or is suitable for
performing the
function, or is adapted to perform the function, or is operable to perform the
function, or is
otherwise capable of performing the function.
[0050] The devices, systems and methods described herein provide, in
accordance with
different embodiments, different examples and embodiments of inline drainable
conduit
section coupler 10 for intervening two sections of a conduit assembly.
[0051] With reference to Figure 1, and in accordance with one exemplary
embodiment,
an inline drainable conduit section coupler for intervening two sections of a
conduit
assembly, generally referred to using the numeral 10, will now be described.
The inline
.. drainable coupler 10 is provided with a first coupler end region 26 and a
second coupler
end region 28. The first 26 and second 28 coupler end regions are each adapted
for
coupling engagement with an end region of a first electrical conduit section
14 and an end
region of a second electrical conduit section 16, as shown in the assembly of
Figure 1 and
Figure 3. In use, the electrical conduit assembly provides a path for one or
more wires 42
to be laid therein such that wires 42 can run a length between an electric
company
distribution box 22 through to a meter base enclosure 18 generally located on
building wall
12, as shown in Figure 1. In some instances, the electrical conduit assembly,
or sections
thereof, may be above ground. However, generally the second conduit section 16
will be
located below ground 24 and be coupled to the second end region 28 of the
inline drainable
.. coupler 10, also located in ground 30, or in the proximity of the building
weeping tile 46
or other suitable drainage location. The first electrical conduit section 14
is then coupled
to the inline drainable coupler 10 at the first coupler end region 26 and
provides a path for
the wire up to the meter base enclosure 18. In some environments (not shown),
the first
electrical conduit section 14 may be coupled to the inline drainable coupler
10 at the first
.. coupler end region 26 and provides a path for the wire into an electrical
room of a building
and from there service a meter base or electrical breaker panel 20. The wires
42 are
connected inside the meter base enclosure 18 to the meter base and the meter
base is
electrically coupled to the breaker panel 20, generally mounted on the
building wall 12, as
shown in Figure 1. Thus, electrical power can be provided to the breaker panel
20 via the
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wires 42 running inside the electrical conduit assembly from the electric
company
distribution box 22.
[0052] Turning now to Figure 2, there is generally shown an embodiment
of the inline
drainable coupler 10 of the present disclosure. The inline drainable coupler
10 has, as
noted above, first 26 and second 28 end regions which are intervened by a
coupler body
30. In some embodiments, the first 26 and second 28 end regions, intervened by
a coupler
body 30, may be a monolithic structure. A lumen 34 is provided along the
interior of the
inline drainable coupler 10 such that wires 42 may pass through a section
thereof and be
maintained in the inline drainable coupler 10. Located about the periphery of
the coupler
body are one or more apertures 32 which allow any liquids within the inline
drainable
coupler 10 to exit therethrough. In the electrical conduit assembly, the
inline drainable
coupler 10 is generally located at or near a low point such that any liquids
which enter the
conduit assembly may travel along the interior to the low point and exit the
electrical
conduit assembly via the apertures 32 located in the coupler body 30. For
example, in the
environment shown in Figure 1 where the inline drainable coupler 10 is located
at a low
point below the meter base enclosure 18, liquids may exit the coupler body 30
into the
weeping tile 46.
[0053] Continuing with Figure 2, there is a screening member 38 located
and fastened
to the coupler body 30 which is provided to inhibit the ingress of debris into
the lumen 34
and into the interior of the electrical conduit assembly yet allow the egress
of liquids. As
shown in Figure 2, Figure 5 and Figure 7, the screening member 38 may
circumferentially
encase the coupler body 30. In some embodiments, such as shown for example in
Figure
6 and Figure 9, the screening member 38 may circumferentially line a lumen
wall 36
against the interior side of the coupler body 30. Furthermore, in some
embodiments,
although not shown, two screening members 38 may be provided where one
screening
member lines the lumen wall 36 against the interior side of the coupler body
30 and the
second screening member circumferentially encases the exterior of the coupler
body 30.
In still further embodiments (not shown), there may be provided a plurality of
screening
members 38 which corresponds to the number of the apertures 32, where each
screening
member 38 is affixed to the coupler body 30 so as to cover a corresponding
aperture 32.
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[0054] The screening member 30 may be provided with various mesh sizes
as
determined by one of skill in the art for a particular given environment. For
example, a
larger mesh size may be desirable and suitable in environments where the
inline drainable
coupler 10 is to be located in a large aggregate stone weeping tile 46.
Whereas in some
environments, the mesh size may be provided as smaller in environments with
the inline
drainable coupler 10 is to be located in a sandy or dirt substrate. Generally,
in preferred
embodiments, the screening member is provided a landscape cloth or a porous
fabric sheet
38a, as indicated in the figures.
[0055] The screening member 38 may be affixed to the coupler body 30 in
several
ways. Generally, the screening member 38 may be glued at various points to the
coupler
body 30 so as to suitably maintain it in a desired located relative to the
coupler body 30.
However, in some embodiments, such as shown in the section denoted by S in
Figure 7,
the first 26 and second 28 end regions may be provided with a cavity into
which the ends
of the screening member 38 may fit and a portion of the first 26 and second 28
end regions
overlap the screening member ends so as to sandwich a portion of the screening
member
ends between a portion of the first 26 and second 28 end regions and the
coupler body 30.
Several methods of maintaining the screening member 38 in a desired location
relative the
coupler body 30 are contemplated herein and other methods may be apparent to
one of skill
in the art. The methods of maintaining the screening member 38 in a desired
location
relative to the coupler body 30 disclosed herein are not meant to be limiting
but are
provided for exemplary purposes of various embodiments.
[0056] The apertures 32 are provided for allowing the egress of liquids
from the lumen
34. The apertures 32 may be provided as any suitable size, however the
apertures 32 are
generally provided from about 0.1 cm to about 1.0 cm openings. In some
embodiments,
apertures 32, as shown in Figures 2 to 10, may be provided as circular bores
32a. However,
in other embodiments, such as shown in Figure 11, the apertures 32, may be
provided as
"V"-shaped apertures 32b. The "V"-shaped apertures 32b may be desirable in
some
environments and embodiments, so as to assist the pulling of a wire 42 through
the lumen
34. For example, the shape of the "V"-shaped apertures 32b may provide a
smoother pull
to a wire 42 and/or fish tape during installation through the lumen 34 in that
the shape of
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the aperture may inhibit the end of the wire and/or fish tape from getting
hung-up on an
aperture. Figure 11 shows, in an exemplary embodiment, the travel direction of
the wire
42 in pulling through the lumen 34 at T. That being that the wire 42 may be
pulled in the
direction denoted by T, towards the apex of the "V"-shaped apertures 38b. In
some
embodiments (not shown), the apertures may be provided as slits either
longitudinally
along the length of the coupler body 30, or transversely across the coupler
body 30, or a
combination thereof. In some embodiments, the apertures 32 may be provided as
a
combination of different shapes.
100571 The apertures 32, as shown in the figures, may be provided about
the
circumference of the coupler body 30. However, with particular reference to
Figure 4, in
some embodiments, the apertures 32 are provided only along one half or less of
the
longitudinal section of the coupler body 30. In other words, the apertures 32
may only be
provided along a bottom side the coupler 30 body. In such embodiments, the
coupler body
30 may be configured, when assembled to form the electrical conduit assembly,
such the
apertures are oriented downward such that liquids may not enter the lumen 34
from the
oriented top side. For example, in particularly damp and rainy climates, such
an
embodiment may be useful to prevent water leaking through the ground 30 from
above
from entering the lumen 34. Furthermore, although not shown the apertures may
be
provide in a row or clusters intended to be oriented downward in use.
100581 Turing now to Figures 12 and 13, there may be provided a radiused
bend 40 to
the coupler body 30. The radiused bend 40 is provided to facilitate a required
change in
direction of various sections of the conduit joined by the inline drainable
coupler 10. For
example, as shown in Figure 1, the second electrical conduit section 16 comes
from the
electrical company distribution box 22 to the inline drainable coupler 10 and
then a change
in direction of the conduit is required as the first electrical conduit
section 14 goes upward
from the ground 30 into the meter base enclosure 18. The inline drainable
coupler 10,
provided with the radius bend 40, thus allows the direction change.
Furthermore, when the
inline drainable coupler 10 is located at the low point, liquid can drain from
the lumen of
the conduit assembly into the weeping tile, or in other words, egress the
interior of the
electrical conduit assembly through the inline drainable coupler 10. For
example, as shown
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in Figure 12, the coupler body 30 may be provided with about a 90 degree bend
or about a
45 degree bend, as shown in Figure 13. The radiused bend angles shown and
disclosed
herein should not be construed as limiting as one of skill in the art will
appreciate that in
certain situations differing degree bends may be required and thus may be
provided. The
radiused bend 40 is also provided, as opposed sharp-angled direction changes
to facilitate
the pulling of a wire 42 through the direction change. For example, the
radiused bend 40
may provide a smoother transition to the direction change for pulling the wire
42 as
opposed to sharp-angled direct change provided by a conventional plumbing
elbow or "T"-
fitting shape and thus facilitate the pulling of a wire and/or fish tape
therethrough.
[0059] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the inline drainable coupler 10 as
disclosed
herein wherein the first 26 and second 28 coupler end regions are provided as
female ends
where an end region of the first electrical conduit section 14 is received in
the first coupler
end region 14 and an end region of the second electrical conduit section 16 is
received in
the second coupler end region 26. In other embodiments, it may be reversed
wherein the
first 26 and second 28 coupler end regions are provided as male ends and are
received into
complementary female end regions of the respective end regions of the first 14
and second
16 electrical conduit sections. Furthermore, in some embodiments, one male and
one
female end region may be provided on the inline drainable coupler 10 for
complementarily
coupling with corresponding end regions of the first 14 and second 16
electrical conduit
sections. Figure 10 notes a female end region 44a and a male end region 44b,
albeit with
regard to threaded 44c coupling end regions. In the embodiments noted above,
the coupling
of the inline drainable coupler 10 may be via friction fit and/or the parts
further glued
together.
[0060] Turning now specifically to Figure 10, a female threaded coupler
end region
44a and male threaded coupler end region 44b is shown for threadably coupling
with
complementary threaded end regions (not shown) of the first 14 and second 16
electrical
conduit sections. Similar to the abovementioned friction-fit end regions, the
threaded 44c
end regions may be provided as both male, both female, or a combination of
female 44a
and male 44b. Alternative means of coupling the inline drainable coupler 10 to
the first 14
and second 16 electrical conduit sections may be realized by one of skill in
the art upon a
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reading of the instant disclosure and are therefore are contemplated within
the instant
disclosure. For example, the first 24 and second 26 end regions may be
provided for
coupling to the end regions of the first 14 and second 16 conduit sections and
further
engaged therewith by an intervening coupling means. The various coupling means
are
provided to further the understanding of the instant disclosure and as
examples.
[0061] While the present disclosure describes various embodiments for
illustrative
purposes, such description is not intended to be limited to such embodiments.
On the
contrary, the applicant's teachings described and illustrated herein encompass
various
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, without departing from the
embodiments, the
general scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Except to the extent
necessary
or inherent in the processes themselves, no particular order to steps or
stages of methods
or processes described in this disclosure is intended or implied. In many
cases the order of
process steps may be varied without changing the purpose, effect, or import of
the methods
described.
[0062] In accordance with the above-described inline drainable coupler 10
and the
various embodiment described herein as well as variations therein, there is
also provided a
method for preventing liquid accumulation in a conduit assembly. In accordance
with
method, the inline drainable coupler 10 is provided intervening and coupled to
a first
electrical conduit section 14 and a second electrical conduit section 16, as
shown for
example in Figure 1. Furthermore, when assembled, also as shown for example in
Figure
1, a drainable conduit system is provided for connection between an electric
company
distribution box 22, or similar, and a meter base enclosure 18, or similar,
for housing a wire
42.
[0063] Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully
capable of
attaining the above-described object of the present disclosure, the presently
preferred
embodiments of the present disclosure, and is, thus, representative of the
subject matter
which is broadly contemplated by the present disclosure. The scope of the
present
disclosure fully encompasses other embodiments which may become apparent to
those
skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than
the appended claims,
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wherein any reference to an element being made in the singular is not intended
to mean
"one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." All
structural
and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred
embodiment
and additional embodiments as regarded by those of ordinary skill in the art
are hereby
expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the
present
claims. Moreover, no requirement exists for a system or method to address each
and
every problem sought to be resolved by the present disclosure, for such to be
encompassed
by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in
the present
disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the
element,
component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, that
various
changes and modifications in form, material, work-piece, and fabrication
material detail may
be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure, as set forth
in the appended claims, as may be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art, are also
encompassed by the disclosure.
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