MATERIAL REGULATING TRAP FOR SEWER CONNECTION

Abstract

A method and system that operates to capture improper disposal materials prior to their entry to the municipal sewer system in order to the burdens of such improper disposals on the originator of the waste. A trap assembly captures improper disposal materials at their source so as to provide notice to the generator of such waste that such activity is prohibited and to provide a mechanism by which responsibility for such improper waste disposal can be correctly identified and assigned while including an animal screen at an outlet thereof to prevent ingress of animals.

Claims

1. A trap assembly for capturing and preventing prohibited materials from entering a municipal sewer disposal system, comprising: a trap having a floor and an interior cavity with an inlet at a first end thereof and an outlet at a second opposing end thereof, wherein a lower flow path comprises a flow enters said interior cavity via said inlet, flows through said interior cavity and exits said interior cavity via said outlet; an operable lid on said trap allowing access to said interior cavity; a capture mechanism comprising an array of capture elements selected from the group consisting of: hooks, barbs, and combinations thereof, positioned within said interior cavity in the lower flow path adjacent and proximate to said outlet, said capture elements disposed on the floor and aligned in a direction opposing said lower flow path configured and arranged to capture prohibited materials contained in said discharge flow to retain said prohibited materials within said lower flow path to create an obstruction to said discharge flow; and an animal screen at said outlet of said capture mechanism, wherein said trap assembly, said inlet being connected to a sewer lateral exiting from said structure, said outlet being connected to a pipe discharging to a municipal sewer system.

2. The trap assembly of claim 1, wherein said prohibited materials are from the group consisting of: cloths, non-flushable wipes, diapers, lighters, ballpoint pens, wooden chopsticks, towels, mops, sanitary napkins, food waste, plastic bags, cleaning wipes, and combinations thereof.

3. The trap assembly of claim 1, wherein said trap assembly is installed on an interior of a structure, said inlet being connected to a sewer lateral within said structure, said outlet being connected to said pipe discharging to a municipal sewer system.

4. The trap assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a lock or anti-tamper loop preventing unauthorized access to said operable lid and said interior cavity.

5. The trap assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an alarm system to determine a level of said flow within said interior cavity.

6. The trap assembly of claim 5, wherein said captured prohibited materials collect on said interior cavity until said captured prohibited materials prevent further flow through said interior cavity and trigger said alarm system.

7. The trap assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a work box installed in the ground adjacent said structure, the trap assembly being positioned within said work box, said work box having an operable lid.

8. The trap assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a lock or anti-tamper loop preventing un authorized access to said operable lid on said trap assembly and said interior cavity.

9. The trap assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a lock or anti-tamper loop preventing un authorized access to said operable lid on said work box and said trap assembly contained therein.

10. The trap assembly of claim 5, wherein said alarm system is selected from the group consisting of: visual, audible, or both.

11. The trap assembly of claim 5, wherein said alarm system provides notification locally within a structure being served by said trap assembly.

12. The trap assembly of claim 5, wherein said alarm system provides notification to an authority that maintains a municipality system that services said trap assembly.

13. The trap assembly of claim 1, the animal screen further comprising: a collar; and a plurality of flexible tines having a first end affixed to and extending from said collar, wherein said plurality of flexible tines include a second end opposite first end, said flexible tines tapered so said second ends meet at a central region of said outlet.

14. The trap assembly of claim 13, wherein said collar is sized to fit an interior diameter of said outlet.

15. The trap assembly of claim 14, wherein said collar is retained in said outlet by set screws.

16. The trap assembly of claim 13, wherein said collar has male threads on a first end thereof and female threads on a second end thereof, said collar being threadedly received in said outlet.

17. The trap assembly of claim 13, wherein said collar has a male bell fitting on a first end thereof and a female bell fitting on a second end thereof, said collar being frictionally received in said outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a trap assembly installed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a trap assembly installed in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a trap assembly installed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a trap assembly illustrating a method in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a trap assembly installed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0025] Now referring to the drawings, embodiments of a method and system in accordance with the present disclosure are provided illustrating a method and system for the regulation of material flowing into a sewer disposal. In the most general embodiment a method and system of regulating and capturing prohibited material from flowing into a sewer disposal pipe operates in a manner that captures the material for later inspection and possible regulatory action.

[0026] Turning now to FIG. 1, in a general embodiment, a trap assembly 1000 in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. The trap assembly 1000 is configured an arranged for installation at the outlet end 1010 of sewer pipe lateral 1020 at a location prior to its connection with the municipal sewer system 1030. In this embodiment the trap assembly 1000 is configured for installation in the ground 1040 on the exterior of a structure 1050 while in other embodiments the trap assembly may be installed in the ground on the interior of the structure.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the trap assembly 1000 includes a sealed removable cover 1060 positioned on a trap assembly body 1070 that provides a watertight seal and allow access to an interior of the trap assembly body 1070 for the inspection and the removal of trapped debris from the interior of the trap assembly body 1070. Preferably, access to the cover 1060 is regulated and access thereto is restricted by an anti-tamper means 1080 such as an anti-tamper loop or a locking mechanism.

[0028] The trap assembly 1000 preferably includes a capture mechanism 1090 on the interior of the trap assembly body 1070 therein to capture and retain prohibited materials that are disposed or flushed into the sewer lateral 1020 before they exit the lateral and enter the municipal sewer disposal system 1030. The capture mechanism 1090 may be an array of hooks, barbs, screens or combinations thereof. Further, the trap assembly body 1070 may be a box or a section of tubing as would be apparent to anyone skilled in the art.

[0029] In some embodiments the trap assembly 1000 may have an alarm device thereon including a sensor 1100 which may or may not be interfaces with an alarm box 1110. The interface between the sensor 1100 and an alarm box 1110 (if used) may be wired or via wireless RF communication as is known in the art. Should the sensor 1100 detect a rise in the retained water level in the trap assembly body 1070 it provides an alarm indicating that sufficient debris has been captured within the trap assembly body 1070 to indicate an imminent or actual clogging of flow to the outlet into the municipal sewer system 1030. The alarm may be audible, visual or combinations thereof. The alarm thereon indicates when sufficient debris has been captured on the interior of the trap assembly results in an imminent or actual clogging of the lateral outlet. The alarm may be a local alarm that signals to the occupants of the structure where the trap assembly is installed. The alarm may be a broadcast alarm that alerts the municipality managing the sewer disposal system. The alarm may alert both the occupants of the structure and the municipality.

[0030] Turning now to FIG. 2, in some embodiments the trap assembly 1000 may be installed on the exterior of a structure 1050. If installed on the exterior of the structure, the trap assembly 1000 may be below grade 1040. Further, the trap assembly 1000 may have a work box 2010 positioned around it to allow access without the need for digging. The work box 2010 ins installed into the ground thereby creating an open space of the trap assembly 1000. In addition to a regulated cover 1060 with a locking mechanism 1080 positioned on the trap assembly 1000, the work box 2010 may also include a cover 2060 with its own locking mechanism 2080. In this arrangement the access to the interior of the trap assembly 1000 may be controlled by a lock 2080 on the cover 2060 of the work box 2010, a lock 1080 on the cover 1060 of the trap assembly 10000, or a lock in both positions.

[0031] Turning now to FIG. 3, in some embodiments the trap assembly 1000 may be installed on the interior of a structure 1050. If installed on the interior, the trap assembly 1000 is configured an arranged for installation at the outlet end of sewer pipe lateral 1020 at a location prior to its extending through the structure 1050 and connecting with the municipal sewer system 1030. Despite being positioned on the interior of the structure, the trap assembly 1000 may still include a secondary work box positioned around it to provide additional security to prevent unauthorized access or tampering.

[0032] Turning to FIG. 4, in accordance with a method disclosed herein, a controlled access trap assembly 1000 as described above is installed on an outlet 1010 of a sewer lateral 1020 prior to its discharge into the municipal sewer disposal system 1030. Prohibited materials 3010 such as wipes, diapers and the like, that are disposed of via the sewer lateral 1020, flow with the sewer discharge 3020 along the lateral 1020. When the prohibited materials 3010 reach the interior of the trap assembly 1000 that are captured by the capture mechanism 1090 contained therein, preventing the prohibited materials 3010 from being discharged in the flow 3030 to the municipal sewer system connection 1030. Should sufficient prohibited materials be captured in the trap assembly an alarm sounds to indicate an imminent clog within the sewer lateral. In order to clear the collected debris, the occupants of the building must contact the municipality managing the sewer disposal system in order to gain access to the trap assembly and clear the accumulated debris.

[0033] At FIG. 5, an animal screen 5010 is provided in the outflow pipe within the sewer system connection 1030. The animal screen 5010 includes a collar 5020 and an array of tines 5030 extending from the collar 5020. The tines 5030 are flexible and affixed to the collar 5020 at a first end and are configured such that a second end come together to a central point along the outflow direction. The tines 5030 are not connected to one another at the second end. The animal screen 5010 is positioned within the outflow pipe to prevent animals, such as rats and the like, from travelling up the sewer system connection 1030 and entering the trap 1000. An animal travelling up the outflow pipe encounters the closed, second end of the tines 5030 and cannot pass through them thereby being prevented from further progress towards the trap 1000. Outflow 3030 can pass through and around the tines such that the animal screen 510 does not impede flow. The flexibility of the tines 5030 allow larger debris that exits the trap 1000 to deflect the tines 5030 and continue along the outflow pipe thereby reducing the possibility that such debris becomes trapped and forms a clog in the outbound line. The collar 5020 may be formed to include male and female threaded ends or male and female bell ends thereby allowing the animal screen 5010 to be installed as a piping component between two sewer pipes. Further, the collar may be sized to allow it to slide on the interior of the outflow pipe where it is held in place using set screws.

[0034] It can therefore be seen that the present disclosure provides a method and system that operates to capture improper disposal materials prior to their entry to the municipal sewer system. It can further be seen that the present disclosure provides a method and system that places the burdens of such improper disposals on the originator of the waste. It can still further be seen that the present disclosure provides a method and system that captures improper disposal materials at their source so as to provide notice to the generator of such waste that such activity is prohibited and to provide a mechanism by which responsibility for such improper waste disposal can be correctly identified and assigned. For these reasons, the present disclosure is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art, which has substantial commercial merit.

[0035] While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.