GB2283047A

GB2283047A - Water reservoir

Info

Publication number: GB2283047A
Application number: GB9404519A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Paul Jeffrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-03-09
Filing date: 1994-03-09
Publication date: 1995-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-09
Also published as: GB9404519D0; GB2283047B

Abstract

A water reservoir for conserving rain water, includes a reservoir container for the rain water having an inlet opening 6 adapted to be connected to a source of rain water, a coaxial outlet 13 and deflecting means 17 interposed between the inlet and outlet, the outlet being formed in a wall of the container and determining the maximum water level in the container. <IMAGE>

Description

Water Reservoir This invention relates to a water reservoir which is particularly, but not exclusively, intended for domestic use for saving rain water. The invention is an improvement in the water reservoir disclosed in my earlier patent application No. 9315014.2. The reservoir of the present invention is intended to be easier and more economical to manufacture with less prospect of leaks occurring in use.

According to the present invention there is provided a water reservoir for conserving rain water, including a reservoir container for the rain water, the container having an inlet opening in an upper wall which is adapted to be connected to a source of rain water, an outlet opening coaxial with the inlet opening, with a deflector means interposed between the inlet opening and outlet opening so as to deflect water entering the container through the inlet opening, away from the outlet opening into the interior of the container, the container having a channel or recess formed in its rear wall, which recess is adapted to accommodate an outlet pipe, an open upper end of the outlet pipe being engageable with the outlet opening, the outlet opening being formed in a wall element of the container adjacent and below the deflector means, which wall closes the upper end of the said recess, the outlet opening in the said wall element determining the maximum water level in the container.

Preferably, the container is formed of a moulded plastics material and, in the preferred form is blow moulded. In this way, the water containing part of the container has no seals or joins which could be a source of water leaks.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a water container in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 shows a front view of the water container, Figure 3 shows a rear view, Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the water flow in the device, Figures 5a to 5d show, respectively, a side view, a bottom view, a sectional view along the lines A-A, and a top view, and Figures 6a to 6c show a modified water deflector.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a water container which is adapted to be mounted against the wall of a house to conserve rain water from the conventional house rain water guttering system. The container is formed of a synthetic plastics material by a blow moulding process. The body of the container includes two horizontal grooves extending around the periphery of the container to provide strength and/or decorative effect. In this embodiment, the container is substantially rectangular and has a height of 1230mm, a width of 550mm and a depth, front to back, of 225mm. It will be understood that different sizes and shapes of container may be provided within the scope of the present invention.The container is secured to the wall and is supported on two metal wall brackets 2 which are screwed to the wall at spaced locations to enable the container to be located on the brackets, which fit into recesses 3 in the lower wall of the container. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the two brackets illustrated may be replaced with a one piece design comprising a wall plate adapted to be secured to the wall, from which two limbs project so as .to be located in the recesses in the bottom wall. On its upper end, the container has an upstanding flange 4 by which the container can be screwed or bolted to the wall of the house to ensure that it is rigidly mounted. The upper wall has a centre section 5 through which an inlet opening 6 is formed.In order to enable the container to be readily adaptable to receive different sizes and/or cross-sections of downpipe, i.e. round or square section, the centre section 5 may be moulded as a closed body with weakened lines laid out for the various standard sized types of drainage systems. Typically, the section would have an inner concentric ring, an outer concentric ring for a larger size of pipe and a square section line for the standard European square section drainage pipe. The purchaser would then simply cut out the appropriate hole by cutting along the appropriate line with a sharp blade. On each side of the centre section 5 of the upper wall, there are respective openings 7 which are intended to serve as inspection openings and/or to support a flower pot for example.Again, these openings 7 need not be provided in the product but could be formed by leaving a weakened circular line so that the openings could be cut out by the purchaser if required.

Referring now to figures 3 and 5 in particular, it can be seen that the container has in its rear wall 9, a recess 10 extending from the bottom of the container to a position close to the top of the container where it is closed by a wall 12 having moulded integrally therewith a spigot 11.

The spigot 11 is open so that an outlet opening 13 is formed in the wall 12. The wall 12 is essentially horizontal so that the outlet opening 12 forms an overflow outlet from the container and thus determines the maximum water level which can exist in the container. The recess 10 is dimensioned to accommodate a standard rain water downpipe of either circular or square cross-section. The spigot 11 is stepped in diameter having a first smaller outer end 14 adapted to receive a smaller circular cross-section pipe, an intermediate section 15 adapted to receive a larger diameter -pipe and an upper section 16 of square section which is adapted to receive a square section tube. In an alternative construction the spigot may have a circular cross-section only, with a selection of adaptor collars being provided to enable a variety of pipes to be connected to the spigot.

The axis of the spigot 11 and hence of the outlet pipe is coaxial with the axis of the inlet opening 6.

A water deflector 17 is located in the container between the inlet opening 6 and the outlet opening 13 so that water entering the container from the house downpipe first strikes the deflector 17 to be diverted into the interior of the container. In this embodiment, the deflector 17 is moulded integrally in the container body, extending inwardly from the rear wall 9.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in figures 6a to 6c, the deflector means 17 is detachable to enable water entering the inlet opening to pass straight through to the outlet 13. In this way, if it is desired to keep the container empty, during the winter for example, the rain water from the guttering system of the house can pass directly to the drains in the conventional manner. Figure 6b shows one embodiment in which a short, closed spigot 19, triangular in cross-section, is formed in the container back wall. A removable deflector 21 in the form of an inverted vee is secured to the spigot 19 by an elastic band 22.

Figure 6c shows another form in which a deflector 20 with a hollow triangular cross-section is a press fit on the spigot 19. A snap-in locating means may be formed in the plastics material to ensure that the deflector does not fall off the spigot in use.

A tap 18 is provided on one side wall as shown in figure 2 and provision may be made to enable the tap to be placed on either side wall to the purchaser's choice.

Claims

1. A water reservoir for conserving rain water, including a reservoir container for the rain water, the container having an inlet opening which is adapted to be connected to a source of rain water, an outlet substantially coaxial with the inlet opening, with a deflector means interposed between the inlet opening and outlet so as to deflect water entering the container through the inlet opening away from the outlet into the interior of the container, an open upper end of an outlet pipe being adapted to be engageable with an outlet opening, the outlet opening being formed in a wall element of the container adjacent and below the deflector means, the outlet determining the maximum water level in the container.

2. A water reservoir as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container has a channel or recess formed in its rear wall, which recess is adapted to accommodate an outlet pipe.

3. A water reservoir as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the container is formed of a moulded plastics material.

4. A water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the container is formed by rotational moulding.

5. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the reservoir is formed of a one piece moulding.

6. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the container is adapted to be mounted on a wall.

7. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inlet and outlet of the container are adaptable to receive different sized/shaped cross-sections of downpipe.

8. A water reservoir for conserving rain water substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim wherein inspection openings are provided on the upper wall of the container.

9. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim except claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the deflector means is detachable from the container wall.

10. A water reservoir as claimed in claim 9 wherein the detachable deflector means is adapted to be snapfitted in place.

11. A water reservoir for conserving rain water substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A water reservoir for conserving rain water, including a reservoir container for the rain water, the container having an inlet opening which is adapted to be connected to a source of rain water, an outlet substantially coaxial with the inlet opening, with a deflector means interposed between the inlet opening and outlet so as to deflect water entering the container through the inlet opening away from the outlet into the interior of the container, the container having a channel or recess formed in its rear wall, which recess is adapted to accommodate an outlet pipe, an open upper end of the outlet pipe being adapted to be engageable with an outlet opening, the outlet opening being formed in a wall element of the container adjacent and below the deflector means,-the outlet determining the maximum water level in the container.

2. A water reservoir as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is formed of a moulded plastics material.

3. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the container is adapted to be mounted on a wall.

4. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inlet and outlet of the container are adaptable to receive different sized/shaped cross-sections of downpipe.

5. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim wherein inspection openings are provided on the upper wall f ;the container.

6. A water reservoir as claimed in any preceding claim except claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the deflector means is removable from the container to allow water to pass through without deflection.

7. A water reservoir as claimed in claim 6 wherein the removable deflector means is adapted to be snapfitted in place.