Berm and filter system

Abstract

A sediment control device includes an under-seal gasket, a threshold member, a filter member, and a berm extending upwards from the top surface of the under-seal gasket. The under-seal gasket includes a first central opening, and the filter member includes a second central opening smaller than the first central opening. The threshold member and the filter member are attached directly to the bottom surface of the under-seal gasket, but are not attached to each other. The threshold member extends across the first and second central openings and includes a plurality of apertures. The berm includes an elongated cylindrical foam member that surrounds a perimeter of the first central opening.

Claims

1. A sediment control device, comprising: a) an under-seal gasket comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first length, and a first width; b) a first central opening in the under-seal gasket, the first opening having a second length and a second width; c) a threshold member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a third length, and a third width, wherein i) the threshold member is attached directly to the under-seal gasket, ii) the threshold member extends across the first central opening, and iii) the third length and width are, respectively, greater than the second length and width; d) a filter member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a fourth length, and a fourth width, wherein i) the top surface of the filter member is attached directly to the bottom surface of the under-seal gasket, and ii) the fourth length and width are, respectively, greater than the second length and width; e) a second central opening in the filter member, the second opening having a fifth length and a fifth width, wherein i) the fifth length is smaller than the first, second, third, and fourth lengths, and ii) the fifth width is smaller than the first, second, third, and fourth widths; and f) a berm extending upwards from the top surface of the under-seal gasket, wherein the berm comprises an elongated cylindrical foam member that surrounds a perimeter of the first central opening.

2. The sediment control device of claim 1, wherein the elongated cylindrical foam member is covered with an upper skirt that is attached directly to the top surface of the under-seal gasket.

3. The sediment control device of claim 2, wherein the threshold member comprises outer edges surrounding a central portion that covers the first central opening, and wherein the outer edges of the threshold member are sandwiched between the upper skirt and the under-seal gasket.

4. The sediment control device of claim 3, wherein the bottom surface of the threshold member is attached directly to the top surface of the under-seal gasket.

5. The sediment control device of claim 1, wherein the under-seal gasket, first central opening, threshold member, filter member, and second central opening are rectangular.

6. The sediment control device of claim 1, wherein the under-seal gasket, first central opening, threshold member, filter member, and second central opening are square.

7. The sediment control device of claim 1, wherein the threshold member comprises a polymeric sheet having apertures.

8. The sediment control device of claim 7, wherein the threshold member is perforated high density polyethylene.

9. The sediment control device of claim 1, wherein the threshold member is a single polymeric sheet comprising a plurality of apertures.

10. The sediment control device of claim 1, wherein the threshold member is a non-laminar polymeric sheet.

11. The sediment control device of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the threshold member is attached directly to the bottom surface of the under-seal gasket.

12. The sediment control device of claim 1, further comprising an additional flap of apertured polymeric material configured for being folded upwards relative to the under-seal gasket and for covering an opening in a curb adjacent to a drain over which the sediment control device is positioned.

13. A sediment control device, comprising: a) an under-seal gasket comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a first central opening; b) a threshold member attached directly to the under-seal gasket and extending across the first central opening, the threshold member having a plurality of apertures; c) a filter member attached directly to the bottom surface of the under-seal gasket and having a second central opening smaller than the first central opening; and d) a berm extending upwards from the top surface of the under-seal gasket, wherein the berm comprises an elongated cylindrical foam member that surrounds a perimeter of the first central opening.

14. The sediment control device of claim 13, wherein the cylindrical foam member is enclosed in an upper skirt, and the upper skirt is attached directly to the top surface of the under-seal gasket.

15. The sediment control device of claim 14, wherein the threshold member comprises outer edges surrounding a central portion that extends across the first central opening, and wherein the outer edges of the threshold member are sandwiched between the upper skirt and the under-seal gasket.

16. The sediment control device of claim 15, wherein the threshold member is attached directly to the top surface of the under-seal gasket.

17. The sediment control device of claim 13, wherein a first portion of an upper surface of the filter member is in direct contact with the bottom surface of the under-seal gasket, and wherein a second portion of the upper surface of the filter member is in direct contact with a bottom surface of the threshold member.

18. The sediment control device of claim 13, wherein the threshold member is attached directly to the bottom surface of the under-seal gasket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other aspects of embodiments are described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements and the description for like elements shall be applicable for all described embodiments wherever relevant:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of the top surface of the sediment control device in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom surface of the sediment control device;

(4) FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the sediment control device taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the sediment control device taken along line A-A in FIG. 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the sediment control device;

(7) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the berm of the sediment control device in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the sediment control device in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention; and

(9) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sediment control device installed over a grate in the roadway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Disclosed herein is a sediment control device that includes a raised, preferably cylindrical, polymeric foam berm around its perimeter. Although the polymeric foam berm is preferably cylindrical, in other embodiments the foam berm may have another shape, such as a rectangle or triangle, in cross-section. The sediment control device further comprises an under-seal gasket, an apertured threshold member, and a filter member. The threshold member and the filter member are attached directly to the under-seal gasket for easy removal and replacement if necessary. Preferably the threshold member and the filter member are not elements of a laminar sheet. The threshold member is a single, non-laminar sheet of polymeric material comprising a plurality of apertures.

(11) The sediment control device 100 is described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1-4. The sediment control device 100 includes an under-seal gasket 102 having a large central opening 104, a top surface 106, a bottom surface 108, a length 110, and a width 112. The central opening 104 has a length 114 and a width 116. When the sediment control device 100 is installed over a drain, the under-seal gasket 102 contacts the road surface that surrounds the drain and forms a peripheral seal around the storm drain when wetted, thus preventing water from seeping under the sediment control device 100. Although the under-seal gasket 102 and the opening 104 are depicted as being rectangular, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that the gasket 102 and/or the opening 104 may be square. The size and shape of the sediment control device 100 may be customized to fit the size and shape of the grate over which it is to be installed. The under-seal gasket 102 may be made from a geotextile material. Non-woven geotextile material is very similar in texture to common felt. For example, the under-seal gasket 102 may be 12 ounce or 16 ounce non-woven geotextile material (e.g., non-woven geotextiles manufactured by Carthage Mills, such as FX-120HS or FX-160HS Carthage Mills, 4243 Hunt Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45242). A seal is created when the material of the under-seal gasket 102 is permeated with water, thereby adhering it the concrete or asphalt that surrounds the drain. The under-seal gasket 102 may be formed of a single, unitary piece of material with the central opening 104 cut out of the material. Alternatively, the under-seal gasket 102 may be formed of four strips of material attached together to surround the central opening 104.

(12) Extending across the central opening 104 in the under-seal gasket 102 is a threshold member 118. The threshold member 118 may be a single, non-laminar sheet of perforated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) having a plurality of apertures 120. In other, less preferred, embodiments the threshold member may comprise an apertured metal sheet or grid of interconnected wires. The sediment control device 100 does not include an outflow member or a laminar sheet of any sort covering the central opening 104. The apertures 120 are sized and shaped to prevent large debris (e.g., large stones, twigs, or the like) from entering the drain while also allowing liquid and sediment to flow therethrough to avoid clogging and runoff. As such, the size of the apertures 120 may be approximately 0.05-0.5 inches, or 0.1-0.2 inches, or inch. The threshold member 118 has a top surface 122, a bottom surface 124, a length 126 (shown in FIG. 4), and a width 128 (shown in FIG. 4). The length 126 and width 128 of the threshold member 118 are, very preferably, respectively less than the length 110 and width 112 of the under-seal gasket 102 and greater than the length 114 and width 116 of the opening 104 in the under-seal gasket 102.

(13) The sediment control device 100 further includes a filter member 130 having a top surface 132, a bottom surface 134, a length 136, a width 138, and a central opening 140 that is smaller than the central opening 104 in the under-seal gasket 102. The length 136 and width 138 of the filter member 130 are, respectively, smaller than the length 110 and width 112 of the under-seal gasket 102. The length 136 and width 138 of the filter member 130 are, as shown, respectively larger than the length 126 and width 128 of the threshold member 118 and larger than the length 114 and width 116 of the opening 104 in the under-seal gasket 102. In alternative embodiments (discussed below), the length 136 and width 138 of the filter member 130 may be, respectively, smaller than the length 126 and width 128 of the threshold member 118. The length 142 and width 144 of the central opening 140 in the filter member 130 are, respectively, smaller than the length 114 and width 116 of the opening 104 in the under-seal gasket 102. The filter member 130 may be formed of a single, unitary piece of material with the central opening 140 cut out of the material. Alternatively, the filter member 130 may be formed of a plurality of (for example, four) strips of material attached together to surround the central opening 140. Preferably the filter member 130 is a woven filtration geotextile made of high-tenacity, monofilament polypropylene yarns which are woven into a stable network such that they retain their relative position. (e.g., Carthage 15%; apparent pore size 0.425 mm; Carthage Mills, 4243 Hunt Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45242).

(14) Each of the threshold member 118 and the filter member 130 are attached directly to the under-seal gasket 102. Notably, the threshold member 118 and the filter member 130 are not attached to each other. This arrangement allows for easy removal and replacement of the threshold member 118 and the filter member 130.

(15) The sediment control device 100 further includes a berm 150 that comprises a foam insert 152 (in this case, cylindrical in shape) covered by a fabric upper skirt 154. While the foam insert 152 may have any desired diameter, depending upon the desired height of the berm 150, in this embodiment the elongated foam cylinder 152 is very preferably between 1 and 2 inches in diameter. In particular, the foam cylinder 152 may preferably be 1.5 inches in diameter. The foam cylinder 152 is formed of a resilient material (e.g., a foamed elastomeric material such as polyurethane, polyethylene, natural latex or the like) that can withstand repeated compression, such as that due to vehicle traffic or high liquid flow rates, without buckling or collapsing. The cylindrical foam insert 152 is covered and enclosed by the upper skirt 154, which may be formed of a material similar to, or the same as, the material that forms the under-seal gasket 102. For example, the upper skirt 154 may be a non-woven geotextile material, such as the non-woven geotextile materials manufactured by Carthage Mills (e.g., FX-80HS, FX-120HS, or FX-160HS, Carthage Mills, 4243 Hunt Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45242). The upper skirt 154 may be attached directly to the under-seal gasket 102. The upper skirt 154 may be a single, unitary piece having a length and width that are, respectively, smaller than the length 110 and width 112 of the under-seal gasket 102 but larger than the length 114 and width 116 of the opening 104. Alternatively, the upper skirt 154 may include four strips of material 156 that are attached to each other and to the under-seal gasket 102, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 4. The berm 150 is thus configured to be the first line of defense to protect the drain inlet from large amounts of sediment and debris entering the drain. During a higher volume rain event, storm water will breach the berm 150, carrying sediment that will flow onto the filter member 130, which will then act as a second line of defense. The central opening 140 in the filter member 130 permits flow into the drain during particularly heavy flows to prevent backup, blocking, and/or possible flooding.

(16) In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 3B, the threshold member 118 is sandwiched between the under-seal gasket 102 and the upper skirt 154. The outer edges of the upper surface 122 of the threshold member 118 are in direct contact with the upper skirt 154, and the outer edges of the lower surface 124 of the threshold member 118 are in direct contact with the top surface 106 of the under-seal gasket 102. The upper skirt 154, threshold member 118, and under-seal gasket 102 are attached together with a plurality of staples 160. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that any other attachment means (such as stitching, adhesive, melt bonding or the like) may be used. The filter member 130 is attached directly to the bottom surface 108 of the under-seal gasket 102 without the threshold member 118 disposed therebetween. Although the filter member 130 is depicted having a length 136 and width 134 that are greater, respectively, than the length 126 and width 128 of the threshold member 118, the length 136 and width 138 of the filter member 130 may alternatively be smaller than the length 126 and width 128 of the threshold member 118 in this embodiment since the filter member 130 and the threshold member 118 are positioned on opposite sides of the under-seal gasket 102.

(17) In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3A, the threshold member 118 is disposed under the under-seal gasket 102, such that the outer edges of the upper surface 122 of the threshold member 118 are in direct contact with the bottom surface 108 of the under-seal gasket 102.

(18) In both embodiments, the filter member 130 is disposed below the under-seal gasket 102, the threshold member 118, and the berm 150. The filter member 130 is attached directly to the under-seal gasket 102. The outer edges of the upper surface 132 of the filter member 130 are in direct contact with the bottom surface 108 of the under-seal gasket 102. The inner edges of the upper surface 132 of the filter member 130 are in direct contact with the threshold member 118 but are not attached to the threshold member 118. As such, the filter member 130 is larger than the threshold member 118. That is, the length 136 and width 138 of the filter member 130 are, respectively, larger than the length 126 and width 128 of the threshold member 118. The filter member 130 is preferably attached to the under-seal gasket 102 by stitching, but it should be readily understood that any other attachment means (such as staples, adhesive, or the like) may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(19) The upper skirt 154 is depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B as being draped over the elongated cylindrical foam insert 152. In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 5, the upper skirt 154 forms a pocket into which the foam insert 152 is placed. The fabric of the upper skirt 154 encircles the foam cylinder 152 and is attached to itself at 162, such as by sewing, stapling, or the like. In this manner, the upper skirt 154 substantially encloses the entire outer surface of the foam insert 152.

(20) As shown in FIG. 6, the sediment control device 100 may further include an additional flap 170 of apertured polymeric material for covering a vertical opening as well as the grate, such as a sidewalk type drain opening. The additional flap 170 is removably attached to the under-seal gasket 102 by fasteners 172, which may be hook and loop type (e.g., VELCRO) fasteners, or the like. In this manner, the additional flap 170 may be easily removed from the device 100 if it is not needed. If the additional flap 170 is needed, it may simply be folded up to cover the sidewalk opening, as shown in FIG. 7. Very preferably, the present invention does not comprise a folding line (or score) of thinner or thicker material for shaping the flat sediment control device 100 into other three-dimensional shapes, such as an L-shape.

(21) The preferred method of affixing the sediment control device 100 to the grate is by attaching strong wire, such as baling or rebar wire, to four corners of the storm drain inlet grate, feed the wire through the sediment control device 100 (e.g., through the apertures 120 in the threshold member 118) and lock the sediment control device 100 into place by twisting the wire a few times and cutting off the excess.

(22) Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it is to be understood that the above description is not intended to limit the scope of these embodiments. While embodiments and variations of the many aspects of the invention have been disclosed and described herein, such disclosure is provided for purposes of explanation and illustration only. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, not all of the components described in the embodiments are necessary, and the invention may include any suitable combinations of the described components, and the general shapes and relative sizes of the components of the invention may be modified. Accordingly, embodiments are intended to exemplify alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may fall within the scope of the claims. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except to the following claims, and their equivalents.