GB2558550A

GB2558550A - Fluid collection

Info

Publication number: GB2558550A
Application number: GB1622217.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Blackledge Edward
Original assignee: Arrow County Supplies
Current assignee: Arrow County Supplies
Priority date: 2016-12-23
Filing date: 2016-12-23
Publication date: 2018-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-23
Also published as: GB2558550B; GB201622217D0

Abstract

A fluid collection device 1 for directing a dripping liquid into a receptacle or bucket 2 comprising a lid 3 and an enclosure 4 formed of one or more panels 5 in which the liquidreceptacle 2 is received. The lid 3 may have a sloping base (32, figure 4) leading to an aperture (35, figure 4) and the lid 3 may have a peripheral lip (30, figure 4) that receives the upper edges (51, figure 3) of the panels 5. The panels 5 may comprise a cellular sheet material, such as polyurethane foam or a corrugated plastic, and may be joined by hinges or members 6, which may also be formed of a plastics material. The device 1 may comprise a tray (107, figure 10) with a lip (170, figure 10) that engages the lower edges of the panels 5. The device may comprise handles, warning indicia 53 or a fluid level indicator (108, figure 10). The device may be part of a kit and parts of the device may be 3D printed. A method of using the device is provided.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Fluid collection

Abstract Title: Dripping Liquid Collection Device with Hazard Warning (57) A fluid collection device 1 for directing a dripping liquid into a receptacle or bucket 2 comprising a lid 3 and an enclosure 4 formed of one or more panels 5 in which the liquidreceptacle 2 is received. The lid 3 may have a sloping base (32, figure 4) leading to an aperture (35, figure 4) and the lid 3 may have a peripheral lip (30, figure 4) that receives the upper edges (51, figure 3) of the panels 5. The panels 5 may comprise a cellular sheet material, such as polyurethane foam or a corrugated plastic, and may be joined by hinges or members 6, which may also be formed of a plastics material. The device 1 may comprise a tray (107, figure 10) with a lip (170, figure 10) that engages the lower edges of the panels 5. The device may comprise handles, warning indicia 53 or a fluid level indicator (108, figure 10). The device may be part of a kit and parts of the device may be 3D printed. A method of using the device is provided.

FIGURE 2

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FIGURES

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FIGURE 10

FLUID COLLECTION

This invention relates generally to fluid collection. More specifically, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a device for collecting water dripping from the ceiling of a room in a building.

Health and safety awareness and regulations have become an integral part of western culture. Organisations responsible for areas of high footfall, such as retail and manufacturing environments, will generally implement and monitor strict procedures for mitigating slip and trip hazards. As such, products have been designed specifically to assist with the implementation and improvement of such procedures.

On occasion, buildings within which retail, manufacturing, healthcare or any other public activity occurs develop leaks, for example leaks in the roof of the building which allows ingress of rainwater or leaks in the internal plumbing. Such leaks can result in fluids, for example water, dripping from the ceiling in a room with high footfall. This situation creates a slip hazard, which should (and is generally) taken very seriously. The most common approach to deal with such a situation is to first place a receptacle, such as a bucket, beneath the region of ceiling from which the water is dripping and to place various slip hazard signage and/or cordon off the area affected to alert any passers-by of the hazard. Once the area is secure, corrective action can then be taken.

Whilst such procedures have proven to be very effective, they require the use of several different products. Appropriate securing of the area is time consuming and requires staff training and if several such leaks occur over a short period of time, there may be a risk that maintenance staff have insufficient or inadequate equipment. The applicant has also observed that as the water accumulates in the bucket, water drops landing therein causes water to splash onto the surrounding floor, which can spread and create a slip hazard beyond the cordoned area. The arrangement of buckets, absorption mats and/or warning signage is often unsightly.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a fluid collection device that simplifies the process of collecting dripping liquids and of securing the affected area. It would also be advantageous to address, or at least mitigate, one or more issues with known fluid collection equipment.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides a fluid collection device comprising one or more panels describing or delineating a receptacle receiving space and a lid for covering the receiving space, wherein the lid is configured to divert, in use, a liquid into a receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space.

Thus, the invention provides a device that simultaneously delineates a slip hazardous area and mitigates the risk of the slip hazard spreading. In addition, the use of panels enables the device to be configured for easy erection and disassembly for storage.

The device or one or more panels may comprise or provide or describe or define an enclosure. The device may comprise a single panel, which may be curved to describe or delineate the receptacle receiving space. The one or more panels may comprise a plurality of panels. The one or more panels may comprise or describe a closed form, such as a circular, elliptical or polygonal shape, e.g. in plan. The one or more panels may comprise a plurality of panels, e.g. two or more panels. The one or more panels may comprise three or more panels, which may comprise a polygonal shape in plan. The panels may provide an enclosure that is polygonal in plan.

One or more, preferably two or more or each, panel may comprise warning indicia thereon, for example on an external and/or major surface thereof. The warning indicia may comprise one or more words, such as “CAUTION”, “SLIP HAZARD” and the like. The warning indicia may comprise one or more shapes, which may be recognised warning shapes such as a triangle. The warning indicia may comprise one or more other features or shapes, such as cross-hatching or indicia indicating a slip hazard. Additionally or alternatively, one or more, preferably two or more or each, panel may comprise a reflective or retroreflective characteristic and/or a bright or high visibility colour or other high visibility characteristics. Additionally or alternatively, one or more panels may comprise branding or advertising indicia thereon.

When the device comprises more than one panel, the panels may comprise vertical edges along which they are joined, for example by joining means. The joining means joining at least two panels may comprise an integral join or hinge, such as a living hinge. In such cases the at least two panels may be formed of a single sheet or by respective sheets joined together by a hinge material formed integrally or adhered to at least one or each panel. Additionally or alternatively, the joining means joining at least two panels may comprise a joining member. The joining member may comprise an elongate extrusion, which may include one or more slots, e.g. for engagingly receiving the vertical panel edge. The joining member may be formed integrally or adhered to one of the panels and the slot may engagingly receive the vertical edge of the other panel. Alternatively, the joining member may comprise a pair of slots, e.g. for enegagingly receiving the vertical panel edge of a respective one of the panels.

The device may be configured for use with a further, similar device, for example arranged in a side-by-side relationship. The joining means or member may comprise a further slot, for example to enable a further panel to be secured to the pair of joined panels, such as to enable multiple enclosures to be formed with a shared panel, e.g. when arranged in a sideby-side relationship.

In embodiments, each joining member comprises a spine and/or one or more legs. The joining member may comprise a pair of legs extending from one side of the spine, e.g. at an angle relative thereto. The leg pair may describe the slot for engagingly receiving the vertical panel edge of the panel. The joining member may comprise two leg pairs, one extending from each side of the spine, e.g. at an angle relative thereto. Each leg pair may describe the slot for engagingly receiving the vertical panel edge of a respective one of the panels. Preferably, the slots are configured to engage the panels such that they extend at an appropriate angle relative to one another, which may be configured to provide an enclosure having a predetermined polygonal shape in plan. For example, the slots may be configured to engage the panels such that they are orthogonal relative to one another, for example where the device or enclosure includes four panels. In such embodiments, the legs may extend from the spine at a 45 degree angle from one another.

The or each leg pair of the joining member may comprises a first, outer leg and a second, inner leg. The inner leg may be shorter than the outer leg. The outer leg may be external of the enclosure and/or the inner leg may be internal of the enclosure.

The lid may comprise an aperture, e.g. through which liquid may pass, in use, into a receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space. The lid may comprise a sloping portion leading to the aperture, e.g. for diverting, in use, a liquid toward the aperture and/or into a receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space .

The lid may comprise a peripheral lip, which may depend from a periphery of the lid and/or may receive an upper edge or upper edges of the panel(s) and/or joining means or member(s). In embodiments, the joining means or members may extend beyond the upper edge of the panels such that the lid is supported by and engages the joining means or members and is spaced from at least one of the panels. Preferably, however, upper edges of the panels are received by the peripheral lip.

The lid may comprise a recess, which may be inboard of the peripheral lip. The recess may include the sloping portion and/or the aperture. The aperture may be comprised in a central portion of the recess. The recess may slope, for example from its periphery to the aperture. The recess may comprise a peripheral wall and/or a base. The base may slope, for example to or toward the aperture, e.g. from the peripheral wall to or toward the aperture. The peripheral wall may be substantially parallel to the peripheral lip. The upper edges of the panels and/or joining means or members may be received between the peripheral lip and the peripheral wall of the recess.

At least one, preferably two or more or all, of the panels may comprise a cellular material, for example a cellular sheet material. The cellular material may comprise, for example but without limitation, a foam material or a corrugated or honeycomb structure that may be formed of a plastics, metallic, ceramic or other material. The cellular material may comprise a polyurethane foam or a corrugated plastics sheet material. Other cellular materials are also envisaged.

The use of such materials enables the panels to be configured with the requisite rigidity whilst minimising the weight of the device. This is particularly advantageous for portability and for ease of erecting the device.

The lid may comprise a formed sheet of material, for example a thermoformed or vacuum formed sheet of plastics material. Alternatively, the lid may be injection moulded or may comprise a composite material, such as a fibre reinforced plastics material, e.g. a glass fibre or carbon fibre reinforced plastics material. The joining members may be formed of a plastics material, for example a thermoplastics material.

The device may comprise a tray, e.g. for receiving a receptacle thereon. The tray may engage a lower portion or lower portions of the panel(s) and/or joining means or member(s).

The tray may comprise a peripheral lip, which may project or extend upwardly from a periphery thereof. The peripheral lip may receive a lower edge or lower edges of the panel(s) and/or joining means or member(s). In embodiments, the joining means or members extend beyond the vertical edges such that the panels are spaced from the tray.

The use of a tray enhances the containment function of the device. For example, if water splashes out of a receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space, it is received and contained within the tray.

The device may include one or more handles, which may be formed in or on or mounted to the lid or one or more of the panels. The device may comprise a fluid level indicator. The indicator may comprise a float, which may be receivable, in use, in the receptacle. The indicator may comprise an indicating means, e.g. for indicating a fluid level.

The device may comprise a receptacle, for example a liquid receptacle such as a bucket or the like, received in the receptacle receiving space.

According to a more specific aspect of the invention, there is provided a fluid collection device comprising a plurality of panels joined together along vertical edges by joining members to describe or delineate a receptacle receiving space and a lid for covering the receiving space, wherein the lid includes a peripheral lip that receives and engages upper edges of the panels and/or joining members and a recess with a sloping base leading to an aperture for diverting, in use, a liquid toward the aperture and into a receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space.

Another aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for assembly into a fluid collection device, e.g. as described above. The kit may comprise one or more of the aforementioned features of the fluid collection device described above.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of constructing or erecting a fluid collection device, e.g. as described above. The method may comprise providing one or more of the aforementioned features of the fluid collection device described above. The method may comprise assembling the one or more panels, e.g. using the joining means or member(s), to provide an enclosure surrounding a liquid receptacle. The method may comprise placing the lid on or over the enclosure.

For the avoidance of doubt, any of the features described herein apply equally to any aspect of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention provides a computer program element comprising and/or describing and/or defining a three-dimensional design for use with a simulation means or a three-dimensional additive or subtractive manufacturing means or device, e.g. a threedimensional printer or CNC machine, the three-dimensional design comprising an embodiment of any one of the features of the device described above, e.g. the lid or the joining member or one of the panels.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms “may”, “and/or”, “e.g.”, “for example” and any similar term as used herein should be interpreted as non-limiting such that any feature so-described need not be present. Indeed, any combination of optional features is expressly envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, whether or not these are expressly claimed. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fluid collection device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the fluid collection device of Figure 1 showing the lid, enclosure and liquid receptacle separated from one another;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the enclosure and lid of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of the lid of the device of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a lower perspective view of the lid of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front view of the collection device of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 7 is a top view of the collection device of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 8 is a section view through line A-A of Figure 6 with the liquid receptacle omitted;

Figure 9 is a section view through line B-B of Figure 7 with the liquid receptacle omitted; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fluid collection device according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a fluid collection device 1 for directing a dripping liquid into a liquid receptacle 2, which is a bucket 2 in this embodiment. The fluid collection device 1 includes a lid 3 and an enclosure 4 formed of a plurality of panels 5, four in this embodiment, joined to one another by joining members 6 to describe or delineate a receptacle receiving space 40 in which the liquid receptacle 2 is received. The lid 3 covers the receiving space and is configured to divert, in use, a liquid into the liquid receptacle 2.

The lid 3, shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5, is substantially square in plan with a peripheral lip 30 depending from its periphery and a recess 31 inboard of the lip 30. The recess 31 includes a base 32 and a peripheral wall 33, which extends substantially parallel to the peripheral lip 30 such that a panel receiving slot 34 is defined between the peripheral lip 30 and the peripheral wall 33.

The base 32 has a square aperture 35 at its centre and a depending lip 36 extending downwardly from the periphery of the square aperture 35. The base 32 slopes from the peripheral wall 33 to the aperture 35 such that a liquid dripping, in use, onto the base 32 is diverted to the aperture 35 and flows into the liquid receptacle 2 beneath it.

Thus, the base 32 is substantially in the form of a truncated pyramid. In this embodiment, the lid 3 is formed of a sheet of plastics material thermoformed into the requisite shape.

Each panel 5 includes vertical edges 50, an upper edge 51 and a lower edge 52. One of the panels 5 is shown with warning indicia, illustrated by a triangle 53, but it will be appreciated that such indicia may be omitted or the same or different indicia may be included on one or more or all of the other panels 5.

io In this embodiment, the panels 5 are formed of a polyurethane foam sheet, such as that which is sold under the trade mark FOAMEX®. It is also envisaged that the panels 5 may be formed of a different cellular material, such as a corrugated sheet material, honeycomb structure or any other suitable structure, which may be formed of a plastics or any other suitable material.

Each joining member 6, shown more clearly in Figure 8, is in the form of an extrusion which includes a cross-section having a pair of spaced L-shaped elements 60, 61 joined by a spine 62. A first L-shaped element 60 includes two legs 60a, 60b orthogonal to one another and joined at their intersection to the spine 62. A second L-shaped element 61 also includes two legs 61a, 61b orthogonal to one another and joined at their intersection to the spine 62, but the legs of the second L-shaped element 61 are shorter than those of the first L-shaped element 60 in this embodiment.

The spine 62 extends from the inner side of the intersection of the first L-shaped element

60 to the outer side of the intersection of the second L-shaped element 61 such that a respective leg 60a, 61a of each L-shaped element 60, 61 defines a first slot and a second respective leg 60b, 61b of each L-shaped element 60, 61 defines a second slot. Each leg pair 60a, 61a and 60b, 61b is spaced to provide a gap or slot that is slightly narrower than the thickness of the panels 5 such that they are received therein as an interference fit.

The enclosure 4 may be assembled by aligning an end of one of the vertical edges 50 of the panel 5 with one of the slots defined by the leg pairs 60a, 61a and 60b, 61b and sliding the joining member 6 along the vertical edge 50 to engage it with an interference fit. Alternatively, the vertical edge may be aligned with the opening of the slot and simply pushed therein. It will be appreciated that the first L-shaped element 60 is outermost and exposed in the assembled condition, whilst the second L-shaped element 61 is innermost.

The lid 3 is placed over the assembled enclosure 4 such that the upper edges 51 of the panels and the upper ends of the joining members 6 are received within the panel receiving slot 34 to receive and engage the upper part of the enclosure 4 such that the lid 3 rests thereon (shown in Figure 9). This provides rigidity to the assembly and locates the aperture 35 of the lid 3 above the centre of the receptacle receiving space 40. It is also envisaged that the joining members 6 may be longer than the panels 5, in which case the lid 3 would rest only on the upper end of the joining members 6 and not on the upper edges 51 of the panels 5, or the joining members 6 may be shorter than the panels 5, in which case the lid 3 would rest only on the upper edges 51 of the panels 5.

In use, the fluid collection device 1 may be flat packed for easy storage. Any suitable liquid receptacle 2 may be used with the lid 3 and enclosure 4, but it is preferable that the receptacle 2 is as large as possible, albeit smaller than the receptacle receiving area 40.

In the event of a leak occurring, a user may place the liquid receptacle 2 beneath the dripping leak and assemble the enclosure 4 therearound by engaging the panels 5 with the joining members 6, as described above. The lid 3 may then be placed on the enclosure 4 such that the upper edges 51 of the panels and the upper ends of the joining members 6 are received within the panel receiving slot 34 to receive and engage the upper part of the enclosure 4 such that the lid 3 rests thereon.

Thus, the slip hazard is secured and the warning signage is provided by the panels 5 of the device 1. This saves time and requires less training of staff. It also provides a much more aesthetically pleasing solution and a more professional appearance.

Turning now to Figure 10, there is shown a fluid collection device 100 according to another embodiment of the invention. The fluid collection device 100 according to this embodiment is similar to the device 1 according to the embodiment described above, wherein like references depict like features and will therefore not be described further herein. The fluid collection device 100 according to this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that it includes a tray 107, a fluid level indicator 108 and the panels 105 are provided with more extensive warning indicia 153 and preferably in a colour designed for high visibility.

The tray 107 in this embodiment is square in plan with a peripheral lip 170 projecting upwardly from its periphery. The tray 107 receives a lower portion of the panels 105 within the peripheral lip 170. In use, the liquid receptacle 2 is received on the tray 107 and the peripheral lip 170 provides a further barrier to egress of liquid from within the device 1.

The fluid level indicator 108 includes an indicating widow 180 that is operably connected to a float (not shown) received within the liquid receptacle 2. When the liquid level within the receptacle 2 reaches a predetermined level, the indicator alerts staff that the receptacle io must be replaced and/or emptied.

In this embodiment, the warning indicia 153 is on all panels 105 and includes upper and lower cross hatching, the word “CAUTION”, the recognised slip hazard indicia and the words “SLIP HAZARD”. The panels 105 also include a retroreflective characteristic for high is visibility.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the aforementioned embodiments are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, whilst the lid 3 and enclosure 4 are square in plan, it is envisaged that the enclosure 4 could include three, five or more panels 5, 105 to describe a different polygonal shape in plan. It is also envisaged that the plurality of panels 5 may be replaced with a single panel 5, 105 that is curved. The joining members 6 may be omitted, for example wherein the panels 5, 105 are integral and/or connected by folds or living hinges or any other suitable arrangement.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. A fluid collection device comprising one or more panels describing a receptacle receiving space and a lid for covering the receiving space, wherein the lid is configured to divert, in use, a liquid into a receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one panel comprises warning indicia thereon.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lid includes a sloping portion leading to an aperture for diverting, in use, a liquid toward the aperture and into a receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the lid comprises a peripheral lip that receives upper edges of the panels.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the lid comprises a recess inboard of the peripheral lip which includes the sloping portion and the aperture.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the aperture is in a central portion of the recess and the recess slopes from its periphery to the aperture.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the recess comprises a peripheral wall and a base that slopes from the peripheral wall to the aperture.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the peripheral wall is substantially parallel to the peripheral lip and the upper edges of the panels are received between the peripheral lip and the peripheral wall of the recess.

9. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more panels comprise three or more panels which provide an enclosure that is polygonal in plan.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the panels comprise vertical edges along which they are joined to one another by joining members, each joining member comprising an elongate extrusion with a pair of slots for engagingly receiving the vertical panel edge of a respective one of the panels

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein each joining member comprises a spine and a

5 pair of legs extending from each side of the spine at an angle relative thereto, each leg pair describing one of the slots for engagingly receiving the vertical panel edge of a respective one of the panels.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein each leg pair of the joining member comprises io a first, outer leg and a second, inner leg which is shorter than the outer leg, the outer leg being external of the enclosure and the inner leg being internal of the enclosure.

13. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each panel comprises a cellular sheet material.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the panels comprises a polyurethane foam or a corrugated plastics sheet material.

15. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid comprises a thermoformed

20 sheet of plastics material.

16. Device according to any preceding claim, wherein the joining members are formed of a plastics material.

25

17. Device according to any preceding claim comprising a tray which engages lower portions of the panels and/or joining members for receiving a receptacle thereon.

18. Device according to claim 17, wherein the tray comprises a peripheral lip that receives lower edges of the panels and/or joining members.

19. Device according to any preceding claim comprising a fluid level indicator.

20. Device according to any preceding claim further comprising a liquid receptacle received in the receptacle receiving space.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1622217.6 Examiner: Dr Kathryn Willett