US20070266489A1

US20070266489A1 - Swimming Pool Drain System

Info

Publication number: US20070266489A1
Application number: US11/383,687
Authority: US
Inventors: James Martin
Original assignee: FLOWMOTION INNOVATIONS LLC
Current assignee: FLOWMOTION INNOVATIONS LLC
Priority date: 2006-05-16
Filing date: 2006-05-16
Publication date: 2007-11-22

Abstract

A swimming pool drain system is disclosed. The swimming pool drain system includes an open trough with an elongated inlet and two outlets wherein the inside of the trough is free from entrapment hazards. The swimming pool drain system prevents individuals from being entangled in the drain because of their hair, clothing, or body parts.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a drain system, and more specifically, to a swimming pool double drain system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Swimming pool and spa safety is always an important consideration. As more families live in homes with backyard swimming pools and spas, it becomes increasingly important that individuals are protected from hazards associated with swimming pools and spas. Specifically, there exists an entrapment hazard associated with swimming pool and spa drains. Therefore, a need exists for a drain system that will eliminate the entrapment hazards associated with conventional swimming pool and spa drain systems.
Currently, the best known method for protecting individuals from drain entrapment hazards is to include dual drain systems or elongated grate systems in the swimming pools. However, the dual drain system and elongated grate system can still present an entrapment hazard for hair, clothing, and body parts. Specifically, the typical dual drain system and elongated grate system in most swimming pools have drain covers that have interior protrusions that can entrap hair, clothing, and body parts, and if an individual's body covers one of the drains, it can become blocked off causing a suction hazard that can trap the individual or lead to evisceration.
In addition to creating entrapment hazard, known drain covers keep leaves from being drawn into the drain, or at least hinder leaves from being drawn into the drain. Keeping leaves out of the drain system creates additional maintenance for the pool operator because the leaves accumulate on the top of the drain cover and must be periodically cleaned.
Presently, there is no swimming pool drain system that is safe and free from entrapment hazards and reduces maintenance for the pool operator. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a swimming pool drain system that would be free from entrapment and suction hazards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system that satisfies the needs of providing a swimming pool drain system that is free from entrapment and suction hazards.
A swimming pool drain system of the present invention comprises a trough with an elongated inlet and two outlets. Additionally, the inside of the trough is non-snaring such that hair, clothing, and body parts would not become entrapped in the trough.
It is an object of the present invention to protect people from becoming entrapped in a swimming pool drain.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool drain that reduces suction hazard.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool drain that includes two outlets and a trough.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool drain that permits leaves and other debris to flow into the drain system to reduce pool maintenance and cleaning requirements.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a swimming pool drain that does not require a drain cover.
The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the swimming pool drain system when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function.
Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later developed equivalent structures, materials, or acts for performing the claimed function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention as placed in a swimming pool.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded and cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional and end view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5A shows a side view of the bottom half of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5B shows a cross sectional view of the bottom half of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The swimming pool drain system 100 of the present invention comprises a trough 105 with an elongated inlet 110 and two outlets 120. The inside 106 of the trough 105 includes a surface that is non-snaring. Non-snaring is defined as being free from hazards that could entrap hair, clothing, body parts, and any other object that could protrude from an individual. Fasteners that protrude into the interior of the drain system is one example of an entrapment that could snare hair, clothing, and body parts.
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the two outlets 120 of the swimming pool drain system 100 are two drain holes 120 that are connected to a drain pipe 140 and are covered with two drain housing chambers 150. The drain spreader trough 105 has two holes 155 that correspond to the two drain holes 120 as seen in FIG. 4 and is fastened to the drain housing chambers 150 that cover the drain holes 120. Preferably, the drain holes 120 are 36 inches apart. The drain housing chambers 150 include sleeves that connect the drain holes 120 to the drain pipe 140.
Preferably, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the swimming pool drain system 100 also includes two drain lips 160 that are fastened on the top of the drain spreader trough 105. The drain spreader trough 105 and the drain lips 160 are fastened into housings 107 that are spaced along the inside 106 of the drain spreader trough 105 so that the fasteners are not exposed. It is preferred that the fasteners are not exposed so that they do not become entrapment hazards for individuals that are near the swimming pool drain system 100. Additionally, a pair of steel inserts 170 can be fastened over the drain lips 160 and into the housings 107 to provide additional strength to the swimming pool drain system 100.
As seen in FIG. 1, the elongated inlet 110 of the swimming pool drain system 100 draws the water from the swimming pool 130 into the swimming pool drain system 100 where it is pulled through the two outlets 120 into a drain pipe 140 that carries the water to a leaf trapper 144, a pump 142 and a filter 143 and eventually releases it back into the swimming pool 130. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the outlets 120 of the swimming pool drain system 100 set into the swimming pool 130 and connected to the drain pipe 140.
In the preferred embodiment, the suction force created by the pump 142 is dispersed over the two outlets 120 and the elongated inlet 110. The surface area created by the elongated inlet 110 is such that if an individual's body were placed over one part of the swimming pool drain system 100, the individual would not become entrapped on the swimming pool drain 100 as a result of the suction force created by the pump 142. Because the elongated inlet 110 allows water into the trough 105 that is connected over the two outlets 120, the suction force is distributed over both outlets 120 and the flow pipe 140 does not become blocked creating increased suction on the blocked outlet 120.
In the preferred embodiment, the elongated inlet 110 does not have a cover. Instead of a perforated cover, the elongated inlet 110 is sized to be long and narrow. Many combinations of length and width will suffice depending on the particular conditions present. In general, it is preferred to size the elongated inlet 110 so that its width is small enough to keep large materials from clogging the drain, but wide enough to allow leaves and other debris to pass through the elongated inlet 110. While the length can vary greatly, it is preferred that the width of the elongated inlet 110 be ¾ of an inch wide. Not having a perforated drain cover allows more leaves and debris to enter the drain system for removal at the leaf trapper 144 or other filter. In addition, not having a perforated drain cover minimizes the amount of leaves and other debris that collect on top of the perforated drain cover, which reduces maintenance.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the one embodiment, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A swimming pool drain system comprising:

a trough having an elongated inlet and two outlets;

wherein the inside of the trough comprises a surface that is non-snaring.

2. The swimming pool drain system of claim 1 wherein the surface of the inside of the trough is free from hazards that could entrap hair, clothing, and body parts.

3. The swimming pool drain system of claim 1 wherein no fasteners protrude into the trough.

4. The swimming pool drain system of claim 1 wherein the two outlets are at least 36 inches apart.

5. The swimming pool drain system of claim 1 wherein the elongated inlet is more than 4 inches long.

6. The swimming pool drain system of claim 1 wherein the elongated inlet is not greater than 1 inch wide.

7. The swimming pool drain system of claim 6 wherein the elongated inlet is not less than ¼ inch wide.

8. A swimming pool drain system comprising:

at least two drain holes that are connected to a drain pipe;

at least two drain housing chambers that cover the drain holes;

a drain spreader trough with at least two holes that is fastened to the drain housing chambers such that the holes in the drain spreader trough line up with the drain holes;

at least two drain lips that fit along an inside of the drain spreader trough and are fastened with fasteners into a plurality of housings such that the fasteners are not exposed;

wherein the inside surface of the drain spreader trough is non-snaring.

9. The swimming pool drain system of claim 8 wherein the two drain holes are at least 36 inches apart.

10. The swimming pool drain system of claim 8 wherein the drain housing chambers further comprise a sleeve to connect the drain holes to the drain pipe.

11. The swimming pool drain system of claim 8 wherein the drain pipe is made of plastic PVC pipe.

12. A swimming pool drain system comprising:

a trough having an elongated inlet and two outlets;

wherein the swimming pool drain system does not require a drain cover.

13. The swimming pool drain system of claim 12 wherein the width of the elongated inlet is between ¼ inches and 3 inches wide.

14. The swimming pool drain system of claim 12 wherein the length of the elongated inlet is greater than 5 inches.

15. The swimming pool drain system of claim 12 wherein the trough has no more than 5 elongated inlets.

16. The swimming pool drain system of claim 12 wherein the surface of the inside of the trough is free from hazards that could entrap hair, clothing, and body parts.

17. The swimming pool drain system of claim 12 wherein no fasteners protrude into the trough.

18. The swimming pool drain system of claim 12 wherein the inside of the trough comprises a surface that is non-snaring.

19. The swimming pool drain system of claim 12 wherein the two outlets are at least 36 inches apart.