COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DEBRIS

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/439,739 titled “Collection System”, filed Jan. 18, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure herein relates generally to automotive accessories. The present invention may be used with vehicle garage flooring or storage/parking areas that are not equipped with proper drainage for materials, debris such as ice/snow melt water, dangerous chemicals, and other debris or contaminants, that melt or fall from vehicles. Without a drainage system, such materials may collect on the flooring and pose danger or risk to a person in the area or may damage the concrete surface of a building. Furthermore, without proper collection such contaminated materials may reach the outside environment, including rivers, ocean, lakes, etc, where they may cause environmental harm as well. The invention disclosed herein solves this problem.

SUMMARY

A collection system is configured to collect debris, such as ice, water, chemical and/or debris from a vehicle. The collection system has a pair of vehicle tracks arrange parallel to one another. A pair of collection containers is arranged between the pair of vehicle tracks. A plurality of channel tubes is arranged between the pair of vehicle tracks. The debris falls from the car onto the pair of vehicle tracks, the pair of collection containers, and the plurality of channel tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example of a collection system configured to collect debris, such as water, chemical and other debris from a vehicle is shown. The collection system has a pair of vehicle tracks 100 that may be arranged generally parallel to one another. A pair of collection containers 200 is arranged between the pair of vehicle tracks 100. A plurality of channel tubes 300 are arranged between the pair of vehicle tracks 100. The debris falls from the car onto the pair of vehicle tracks 100, the pair of collection containers 200, and the plurality of channel tubes 300.

Generally, as shown, the vehicle tracks 100 may include:

• • Item 101. Industrial non-skid rubber, plastic material. The bottom surface of the track faces towards the garage floor and may be made of soft non-skid rubber, plastic material. The top surface of the track contacts the vehicle's rubber tires and may be made of industrial plastic that may have an elevated or rough texture to assist and support the flow of melt water, chemicals, and debris towards the collector container 200 at the center.
  • Item 102. A flag or marker for drive-in guidance for proper stoppage and centered alignment.
  • Item 103. A storage strap for the tracks, so that the tracks may roll into compact roll that can be fixed with the pre-mounted storage strap for off season storage.
  • Item 104. The side of the tracks may be angled to enable the track to better roll into the storage mode and to assist ease of drive-in. Furthermore, as described in 105, the angled side allows the flex-down of the entry point so that the sides don't turn under the tires upon entry.
  • Item 105. An entry mount within or on the top surface of the track may keep the melt water, chemicals, and debris within the track and allows the flow into the collector containers at the center. The entry mount may have a flexible base made out of soft rubber honeycomb or alternatively from durable flex-foam, to allow a vehicle to enter smoothly without speedbump type movement. Upon entry over the entry mount, the mount, with the pressure of the honeycomb, flex-foam, may elevate or return back to the form as shown.
  • Item 106. An entry plateau (flat) prior to the 105 entry mount prohibits the movement of the tracks when vehicle tire enters the elevated entry mount structure. Tire provides pressure to the flat surface prior to minimal climb friction over the honeycomb, flex-foam mount base.
  • Item 107. Side section illustrates the inner part of the entry mount honeycomb, flex-foam fill area/volume. Optionally, a detachable solid pipe form can be inserted inside/center at the entry mount to prevent the melt-water, debris flowing out prematurely prior to flowing to the collector containers.
  • Item 108. Access entry hole for the connector container channels/tubes 300 from the tracks to the collector containers 200.
  • Item 109. Base of the track has wedge type form that is slightly tilted inwards and backwards(towards the entry mount). This tilt may assist the melt water, chemicals, and debris flow towards the access entry holes 108, through the channel/tube 300 and finally to the collector container 200.
  • Item 110. Base material can be equipped with embedded heat matt under the surface layer that is powered by AC110/220v outlet to expedite the ice particles melting, therefore expediting the flow towards the collector containers.

As shown, the system may also include containers 200 and may include:

• • Item 201. Collector container made from industrial rubber, plastic, either 3D printed or molded.
  • Item 202. Collector container lid that has lip that connects to the female lip base. Lid has access holes that allow melt water, chemicals, and debris enter from bottom of the vehicle. Same lid structure also allows the melt water to evaporate over time leaving solids to base that can be properly disposed.
  • Item 203. Collector container base that holds the melt water, chemicals, and debris.
  • Item 204. Clip that connects the collector container lid with the base.
  • Item 205. Collector container access hole that connects to the channel/tube which other end connects to the tracks to collect the melt water, chemicals, and debris.
  • Item 206. Carry-on handle. These handles can be used for moving the collector containers for maintenance and cleaning.

The channels/tubs 300 may include:

• • Item 301. Channel or tube for debris, such as melt water, chemical and other debris. This tube may interconnect the vehicle tracks with the collector containers.
  • Item 302. Solid lip with inner rubber seal that is pressed through the track access hole towards the collector container.
  • Item 303. Adjustable lip with inner rubber seal that is pressed to the outside part of the collector container. Alternatively, this can be installed/mounted by opening the collector container lid and placing the lip outside of the collector container.
  • Item. 304. Adjustable lip with inner rubber seal that is pressed to the inner part of the collector container. Alternatively, this can be installed/mounted by opening the collector container lid and placing the lip inside of the collector container.

Turning to these components in more detail each vehicle track may have an industrial non-skid rubber, plastic material on a bottom surface facing towards the garage floor, such as a soft non-skid rubber, plastic material. The top of each track, which contacts vehicle tires, may be made of an industrial plastic that may have an elevated or rough texture to assist and support the flow of melt water, chemicals, and debris towards the collector container at the center. There is also drive-in guidance for proper stoppage and centered alignment. A storage strap is for the tracks, tracks are designed to roll into compact roll that can be fixed with the pre-mounted strap for off season storage. The side of the tracks are angled to enable a roll into the storage mode and assist ease of drive-in. The entry mount keeps the debris, such as melted water, chemicals, and other debris within the tracks allowing the flow into the collector containers at the center. The entry mount has flexible base made out of soft rubber honeycomb or alternatively from durable flex-foam, this allows the vehicle to enter smoothly without speedbump type movement. The entry plateau is arranged prior to the entry mount and prohibits the movement of the tracks when vehicle tire enters the elevated entry mount structure. The tire provides pressure to the flat surface prior to minimal climb friction over the honeycomb, flex-foam, gel mount base. The side section illustrates the inner part of the entry mount honeycomb, flex-foam, gel fill area/volume. Optionally, a detachable solid pipe form can be inserted inside/center at the entry mount to prevent the melt-water, debris flowing out prematurely prior to flowing to the collector containers. Access entry hole for the connector container channels/tubes from the tracks to the collector containers. Base of the track has wedge type form that is slightly tilted inwards and backwards (towards the entry mount). This tilt assists the debris, such as melt water, chemicals, and other debris, flow towards the 108 access entry holes, through the channel/tube and finally to the collector container.

The collector container made from industrial rubber, plastic, either 3D printed or molded. A collector container lid that has lip that connects to the female lip base. Lid has access holes that allow debris, such as melt water, chemicals, and other debris to enter from bottom of the vehicle. Same lid structure also allows the melt water to evaporate over time leaving solids to base that can be properly disposed. A collector container base holds the debris, such as melted water, chemicals, and debris.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.