TELESCOPIC SNAP-FIT SUMP BASIN, AND THE LIKE

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/803,840, filed Dec. 8, 2022, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to sump pumps and sump basins, and, more particularly, to installation of sump basins in pre-existing structures, such as residential housing.

In order to ensure better water drainage in homes, for example, sump basins have been used to gather water which would otherwise intrude upon the home interior. Pumps are typically placed in those basins to remove the water which gathers in the sump basins. However, sump basins are typically installed to extend three or more feet below the ground level of the home. Accordingly, when installing sump basins into pre-existing homes, there are often difficulties in negotiating the low crawl spaces under the homes, typically having only 15 inches of clearance, for example. A conventional one piece basin simply cannot fit into such crawl spaces, much less be easily placed into a three or more foot deep hole dug within the crawl space.

It has been suggested to use multi-segment sump basins in those circumstances, which can be threaded together once the sump hole has been dug. However, threading those sections together can be tedious and complicated due to the debris and dirt adjacent the segment threading and the logistics of maneuvering the segments within a crawl space. Similarly, other means of joining the segments together have not been satisfactory as well, given the close confines of the crawl space and the depth of the hold needed for the basin to fit into.

SUMMARY

A sump basin is provided which is particularly well-suited for use in confined spaces. For example, embodiments of the sump basin may have one or more of the following characteristics or advantages:

a. lower overall cost of manufacture, installation, and maintenance,

b. improved economy of use and/or operation,

c. compliance with applicable governmental regulations, and

d. accommodate a wide variety of different uses.

These and other objectives are achieved by the provision of a sump basin formed from telescopically interfit portions which can be snap-fit into an expanded position of increased vertical height by use of one or more ledges formed on circumferential ribs, merely by pulling up on the top segment once the collapsed basin is in place and a sump pump is mounted therein.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following drawings and detailed description of certain preferred and alternative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional sump basin which can be modified into a telescopic sump basin;

FIG. 2 is an upper, right perspective view of a telescopic sump basin in a collapsed position; and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a telescopic sump basin in an expanded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures show schematically, and in best mode versions, embodiments of the present invention, both generically and specifically. The drawings are not precisely to scale from one to the next.

The following numbered features are illustrated in the drawings:

Sump basin 10, having:

a top lip 12,

at least one reinforcing rib 14 extending vertically,

upper portion 20, with

outer surface 22,

inner surface 24,

top edge 26, which forms a opening into sump basin 10,

lower portion 30,

outer surface 32,

inner surface 34,

bottom 36,

and perforations 44 spaced conventionally about the sump basin which permit water to enter the basin and be collected thereby for removal by a conventional sump pump (not shown) which rests upon bottom 36.

To create the present invention, preferred embodiments have cut a conventional sump basin along line 16 to form upper portion 20 and lower portion 30. That cut creates a bottom edge in upper portion 20 along line 16, and creates a top edge in lower portion 30 along line 16. Further the portion of rib 14 on lower portion 30 which is adjacent to the top edge of lower portion 20 is removed, such as by grinding or a lathe, to create a flat portion 40 having a projecting ledge 42.

Briefly, these elements interact as follows:

Lower portion 30 is placed within upper portion 20, as shown in FIG. 1, such that they are in a telescopic relation. FIG. 2 shows the sump basin of the present invention in a collapsed position having its smallest vertical height. Top lip 12 allows upper portion to be readily lifted, such that inner surface 24 slides over outer surface 32 and rib 14 on lower portion 30, until the bottom edge of upper portion 20 reaches flat portion 40 above ledge 42. Preferably, at least the region of upper portion 20 adjacent its bottom edge is formed from flexible or resilient material which allows the circumference of that bottom edge to expand as it passes over the widest portion of the circumference of lower portion 30 and then contract (with a "snap") to a smaller circumference as it rests on ledge 42. Preferably, however, the circumference of the bottom edge of upper portion 20 does not allow upper portion 20 to be completely removed from lower portion 30. Thus, upon being raised to flat portion 40, upper portion 20 is locked into that expanded position, where the vertical height of the sump basin is significantly higher than at its collapsed position.

Although the present invention has been shown and described herein with respect to certain preferred embodiments and alternative configurations, those were by way of illustration and example only. For example, in especially preferred embodiments, the weight and location of the sump pump will facilitate locking of upper portion 20 into place as it is raised. Also, in other embodiments, upper portion 20 can be twisted onto flat portion 40 without need for use of flexible material in upper portion 20. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.