US20100206792A1

US20100206792A1 - Above-curb emitter

Info

Publication number: US20100206792A1
Application number: US12/378,901
Authority: US
Inventors: Evan W. Stradley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-19
Filing date: 2009-02-19
Publication date: 2010-08-19

Abstract

An above-curb emitter for directing water away from a landscaped area having a curb or other obstruction at the edge thereof in a manner that prevents water from pooling on the landscaped area. The emitter comprises a body member having an inlet at the bottom end thereof, one or more sidewalls extending upward from the inlet, a protruding section extending outward from the sidewalls, an outlet at the distal end of the protruding section and a top wall. The sidewalls and top wall are closed to direct water out the outlet. The protruding section is generally perpendicular to the axis of the inlet and extends over the top of the curb to direct water into a gutter or the like. An insert section, preferably made out of plastic, is sized to be received in a drainage system riser. The upper portion of the body member can be rubber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses for emitting water from a water source. In particular, the present invention relates to emitting apparatuses that are beneficially configured to direct drainage water from a drainage area. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to emitting apparatuses that are configured as an attachment that connects to a drain pipe to direct water over a curb or other obstruction to divert drainage water away from landscaped area.
B. Background
The need to drain water from a location where it accumulates to a place where it can be better handled is a common problem. As an example, rain falls on roofs and other non-pervious surfaces and must be diverted away from adjacent landscaped areas to a place where the accumulation of such water is not a problem, such as a drainage basin, water treatment facility, surface water or the like. To efficiently and effectively accomplish the water diversion, most roofs and other structures have a drainage system that directs the water to a drain pipe that bypasses the landscaped area so as to prevent the accumulation of water on the landscaping. In addition to damaging the landscaping due to the flow of water over the landscaped area, the accumulation of water on the landscaped area can effectively drown some plants, create areas where vegetation cannot grow and result in marshy areas that are inconsistent with the remaining landscaping. The failure to adequately drain water away from the landscaped area can result in areas of standing water, which in addition to damaging the landscaping can become a breeding ground for pests such as mosquitos.
Most homes, offices and other buildings have a landscaped area on the side of the building that faces the street or other roadway. Typically, the building owner has invested money, often a significant amount of money, in the landscaping in order to improve the visual appearance of the property from the street and, therefore, has a drainage system that is designed to take water away from the building without damaging the landscaping. A standard drainage system comprises a drain pipe that is buried under the landscaping to move the water from the building to a conveyance location at or near the street. Although some cities and other municipalities utilize the street to convey the drain water away, most cities have streets that are slightly raised at the center to slope downward to the edges of the street where a gutter, which is positioned between the street and the landscaped property, conveys the water to a drainage pond or other location where the water can be beneficially handled. Typically, the gutter is slightly lower than the edge of the street and somewhat lower than the edge of the landscaped area adjacent the street. To divert water from the building to the gutter, the drain pipe of the typical drainage system is buried underneath the landscaped area and slopes downward from the building toward the street. To direct water from the drain pipe, a 90 degree elbow or the like interconnects the end of the drain pipe with an upwardly disposed riser. The upper end of the riser is typically provided with a pop-up emitter or a grate cover that is intended to cause water to flow out of the drain pipe and into the gutter. However, because the standard pop-up emitter or grate cover at the end of the riser allows water to exit in a 360 degree direction around the riser, some of the water flows onto the landscaping instead of into the gutter. Water flowing onto the landscaping near the drainage system discharge results in many of the same problems that the drainage system was intended to avoid, namely pooling of water which can damage vegetation, create a marshy area and/or provide a breeding ground for mosquitos, except at the edge of the street instead of near the building.
Many cities and other municipalities require a property developer to install curbs at the edge of the gutter alongside the property to provide a more definitive channel edge for the gutter and to reduce the likelihood that vehicles will drive or park on the property. One type of curb is commonly referred to as a rolled curb. This type of curb has an angled upper surface which begins above the adjacent property and angles toward the street. One problem with this type of curb, as well as other curbs, is that it tends to somewhat significantly worsen the problem of water backing up on the landscaped property. Some of the water that exits from the emitter or grate at the top of the riser will hit the back side of the curb and flow toward the property or down alongside the riser. As a result of the 360 degree discharge and blocking by the curb, most of the water from the riser does not actually go to the gutter. Instead, it pools on the landscaped area, creating the problems described above, until it pools up enough that the water will spill over the curb and into the gutter. In an attempt to solve the problem with water pooling behind a curb, some property owners and developers drill a hole through the curb at or near the level of the landscaping so water which would otherwise pool around the drainage system discharge will flow into the gutter. Although typically effective, these holes are relatively expensive to drill and are subject to being blocked by soil, vegetation and/or other debris. In addition, if the such work involves cutting out part of a city or other municipality owned sidewalk, the owner or contractor may need a permit or other authorization from the municipality, which takes time and often require fees.
What is needed, is an improved emitter for use at the end of a water drainage system to more effectively drain water to a gutter or other location away from property, such as a landscaped area, that the owner desires not to receive the drainage water. The preferred emitter should be configured to be utilized with property that is bounded by a curb or other obstruction which blocks the flow of drainage water from the property to a gutter or other conveyance location in order to direct water over the curb and into the gutter. Preferably, the emitter should be configured to connect to the end of a vertically disposed riser and direct water from the riser to an adjacent gutter and away from a landscaped area to prevent pooling of the water on the landscaped area. The preferred emitter should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install and be made out of materials suitable for use at or near the edge of a property where it is bounded by a street or other roadway.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-curb emitter apparatus of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses an above-curb emitter that is specifically configured to direct water away from a landscaped area bounded by a curb or other obstruction and into a gutter or other water conveyance location, such as a street or storm water drain. As set forth in more detail below, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the above-curb emitter fixedly attaches to the upper end of a vertically disposed riser connected to a drain pipe to direct drainage water over a curb and into a gutter. The above-curb emitter of the present invention prevents drainage water from backing up behind a curb or like obstruction at the edge of a property parcel and, therefore, prevents the landscaping and other problems that are associated with pooling of water on a landscaped area. In the preferred embodiments, the above-curb emitter of the present invention is made out of materials that are suitable for use next to a street or other roadway and is relatively inexpensive to make and easy to install.
In a primary embodiment of the present invention, the above-curb emitter is configured for use with a drainage system having a vertically disposed riser positioned at or near a curb that is disposed between a landscaped area and a gutter so as to direct water from the drainage system over the curb and into the gutter where it can be conveyed away from landscaped area. The above-curb emitter comprises a generally tubular body member having an inlet at a first end of the body member, one or more generally vertical sidewalls that define an inlet axis of the inlet, a protruding section that extends outward from one of the sidewalls, an outlet at a distal end of the protruding section and a top wall which is disposed generally opposite the inlet. The sidewalls and the top wall of the body member are configured to prevent discharge of water out the body member except through the outlet provided at the distal end of the protruding section. In a preferred embodiment, the protruding member is generally perpendicular to the inlet axis and has a length sufficient to place the outlet at or near the outer edge of the curb. The protruding section is disposed above the inlet an extension height amount that is sufficient to dispose the protruding section above the curb so the water from the drain pipe will be directed to the opposite side of the curb away from the landscaped area. In one embodiment, the extension height of the body member exceeds a curb height of the curb. Preferably, the water is diverted directly into the gutter. The above-curb emitter has means at the first end of the body member that is configured for connecting the body member to the upper end of the riser so as to direct water flowing from the riser and through the body member over the curb. In the preferred embodiment, the connecting means comprises an insert section which is attached to or integral with the first end of the body member, with the insert section of the above-curb emitter being sized and configured to be received in the riser and attached thereto. Preferably, the insert member and riser are made out of plastic so a solvent can be utilized to solvent weld the insert member to the riser to fixedly attach the above-curb emitter to the riser. In a preferred embodiment, the protruding section can be made out of rubber or other flexible material so that any vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles, that run over the above-curb emitter will not damage the body member. In an alternative embodiment, the outlet is disposed on a bottom wall of the protruding section instead of at its distal end.
The present invention also sets forth an improved drainage system that comprises a landscaped area, a conveyance location such as a gutter or the like, an obstruction such as a curb disposed between the landscaped area and the gutter having a curb height that prevents direct drainage of water from the landscaped area to the conveyance location, a vertically disposed riser in the landscaped area near the obstruction configured to receive drainage water and an above-curb emitter that is configured to direct water from the riser into the conveyance location. In the preferred embodiment, the above-curb emitter has a generally tubular body member with an inlet at a first end, one or more generally vertical sidewalls defining an inlet axis of the inlet, a protruding section extending outward from one of the sidewalls generally perpendicular to the inlet axis, an outlet at a distal end of the protruding section, a top wall disposed generally opposite the inlet and means at the first end of the body member for connecting the body member to the riser to direct water flowing from the riser into the body member. The sidewalls and the top wall of the body member are each configured to prevent discharge of water out the body member except through the outlet. The protruding section is disposed above the inlet an extension height amount that is sufficient to dispose the protruding section above the obstruction and it has an extension length that is sufficient to discharge water into the conveyance section to covey it away from the landscaped area. In a preferred embodiment, the connecting means comprises an insert section that is attached to or integral with the body member, with the insert section being sized and configured to be received in the riser and attached thereto. Preferably, the insert section and the riser are made out of plastic that allows them to be joined together by solvent welding and the protruding section is made out of rubber to reduce the likelihood it will be damaged if run over by a vehicle when in use.
Accordingly, one of the primary aspects of the present invention is to provide an above-curb emitter that has the various advantages discussed above and overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with presently available drainage system emitters.
It is an important aspect of the present invention to provide an above-curb emitter that attaches to the upper end of a vertically disposed riser to direct water from a drainage system over a curb or other obstruction in order to prevent pooling of water on the property bounded by the curb.
It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide an above-curb emitter that directs all or nearly all of the water in a drainage system away from property where the drainage water is not intended to be discharged so as to prevent damage or harm to that property.
It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide an above-curb emitter that diverts drainage water away from a landscaped area by directing the discharged water over a curb or other obstruction bounding the landscaped area and into a gutter or the like to prevent pooling of the drainage water on the landscaped that can damage the landscaping and create other water pooling problems.
Another important aspect of the present invention is to provide an above-curb emitter that is configured and made out of materials that are suitable for use next to a street or other roadway so as to reduce the likelihood of damage to the emitter from vehicles.
Yet another important aspect of the present invention is to provide an above-curb emitter that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install so that it may be utilized on many different types of landscaped areas.
The above and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of the above presently described and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art drainage system showing the positioning of the drain emitter next to a curb that is adjacent to a landscaped property and a gutter which is disposed along a street;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the prior art drainage system of FIG. 1 showing much of the discharged water being directed onto the landscaped property instead of the gutter;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a drainage system having an above-curb emitter configured according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing all of the drainage water being directed into the gutter.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the above-curb emitter utilized in the system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the above-curb emitter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the above-curb emitter of FIG. 3, the right side view being the reverse thereof;

FIG. 7 is a back view of the above-curb emitter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the above-curb emitter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a left side view of an alternative embodiment of the above-curb emitter of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the above-curb emitter of FIG. 9 showing the discharge opening disposed on the lower surface of the outwardly extending section of the emitter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The accompanying figures are merely illustrative of one or more of the preferred embodiments and, as such, represent one or more ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the figures and description provided herein show certain uses and configurations for the above-curb emitter of the present invention, those who are skilled in the art will readily understand that this is merely for purposes of simplifying the present disclosure and that the present invention is not so limited.
An above-curb emitter that is configured pursuant to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown generally as 10 in FIGS. 3 through 10. A prior art drain emitter 12 is shown in use with a prior art drainage system 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The typical prior art drainage system has a drain pipe 16 that is buried below the landscaped area or other property 18 which the owner desires to divert the drainage water, shown as 20 in FIG. 2, away from so as to prevent damage to the property 18 or any landscaping thereon and other issues that arise from standing water on the property 18. The typical prior art drainage system 14 has a generally vertically disposed riser 22 at or near the edge 24 of the landscaped area 18 that is connected to drain pipe 16 by a 90 degree elbow 26 at the lower end 28 of riser 22 to direct drainage water flowing through drain pipe 16 into riser 22. The typical drainage system 14 has a generally downward sloping drain pipe 16 so drainage water 20 will gravity flow through the drainage pipe 16 and into riser 22. As well known in the art, riser 22 is a tubular-shaped member, typically having a circular cross-section (though other cross-sections can be utilized). Although the upper end 30 of riser 22 can be left open to allow water 20 to flow out of riser 22, usually a prior art emitter 12 is attached to the upper end 30 of riser 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Prior art emitter 12 is configured to facilitate water 20 flowing out of riser 22 while preventing debris, insects and small animals from entering riser 22, which among other problems can clog one or more pipes of drainage system 14 and prevent the discharge of water 20 therefrom.
The typical prior art drainage system 14 comprises a conveyance location 32 that is intended to receive the drainage water 20 from emitter 12 and convey the water 20 away to another location, such as a drainage basin, river, lake or water treatment facility. In one common configuration, the conveyance location 32 is a gutter that is disposed along side a street or other roadway 34, as best shown in FIG. 1. Typically, the gutter 32 is vertically offset from the street 34 such that water 20 entering gutter 32 will flow along the edge of street 34 and leave the center portion thereof accessible for vehicular traffic. In another embodiment, the conveyance location 32 can be a storm water sewer system, a drainage base, river or lake, thereby allowing direct discharge of the water 20 from drainage system 14. Two common types of prior art emitters 12 are the grate-type emitter that provides a grated opening across the upper end 30 of riser 22 and the pop-up type emitter that has a discharge mechanism which pops up in response to hydraulic pressure inside riser 22 to allow water 20 to flow out the emitter 12. Other types of prior art emitters 12 are also known. The prior art emitters 12 used at riser 22 of drain system 14 are configured to discharge water 20 in a generally 360 degree direction around the emitter 12, as generally shown in FIG.2.
Many prior art drainage systems 14 comprise an obstruction 36 at or near the edge 24 of the landscaped area 18 which prevents drainage water 20 from flowing directly into the conveyance location 32 (also intended to prevent water from flowing into landscaped area 18 from the conveyance location 32). In a typical configuration, the obstruction 36 is a curb or the like that separates a landscaped area 18 from the gutter 32. In other configurations, obstruction 36 can be a small fence-like edging material, edge trim, rail posts or a sidewalk. As will readily appreciated, water 20 draining through riser 22 and emitter 12 must pass over the top of obstruction 36 in order to drain into the conveyance location 32 so that it may flow away from the landscaped area 18. Depending on the height of obstruction 36 above the level of the landscaped area 18, this height hereinafter referred to as curb height 38 and shown for the prior art drainage system 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2, a potentially significant quantity of water 20 can back-up against the obstruction 36 and pool on the landscaped area 18. As set forth in the Background, this pooling of water 20 can cause problems with the landscaped area 18 and the landscaping planted thereon, including drowning the vegetation and turning that pooling part of the landscaped area 18 into a marsh-like mess, and with the breeding of mosquitos and other pests. As shown in FIG. 2, it is relatively common for a majority of the drainage water 20 to flow back onto the landscaped area 18 and/or along the edge 24 of the landscaped area 18 between the riser 22 and the obstruction 36. The above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention is configured to solve the problems described above and shown in FIG. 2.
The above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention is configured for use with an improved drainage system 40, shown in FIG. 3, that generally comprises the same components as the prior art drainage system 14 except that it utilizes the above-curb emitter 10 instead of the prior art emitter 12. As shown, above-curb emitter 10 attaches to the upper end 30 of riser 22 such that drainage water 20 that flows down drain pipe 16 passes through elbow 26, up riser 22 and out emitter 10. Unlike the prior art drainage system 14, the drainage system 40 utilizing the above-curb emitter 10 discharges all or virtually all the water 20 into the conveyance location/gutter 32 instead of allowing some of the water 20 to flow back onto landscaped area 18 and create the above-referenced problems. The configuration of above-curb emitter 10, set forth in detail below, directs the water 20 towards the conveyance location 32 and away from the landscaped area 18. The above-curb emitter 10 can be utilized with most existing drainage system configurations with little or no modification thereto (except the removal of the prior art emitter 12).
A preferred embodiment of the above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention is best shown in FIGS. 4 through 8. In this embodiment, above-curb emitter 10 comprises a body member 42 having an inlet 44 (best shown in FIG. 8) at a first or bottom end 46, one or more generally vertical sidewalls 48 extending upward from the inlet 44, an outwardly extending protruding section 50 extending generally outward from one of the sidewalls 48, an outlet 52 at the distal end 54 of the protruding section 50 and a top wall 56 disposed at the second end 58 of body member 42 generally opposite the inlet 44 over the sidewalls 48 and protruding section 50. In one configuration, shown in the figures, sidewalls 48 have a generally circular cross-section and protruding section 50 has a generally rectangular cross-section. A variety of other cross-sectional shapes can also be utilized with above-curb emitter 10. As shown in FIG. 6, inlet 44 has an inlet axis 60 therethrough that, in the preferred embodiment, is substantially vertical and defined by the sidewalls 48, which also define inlet 44, such that the protruding section 50 is substantially perpendicular to inlet axis 60. To ensure that the water 20 from the drain pipe 16 is directed to the conveyance location 32, the sidewalls 48, top wall 56 and the bottom wall 62 (best shown in FIGS. 4 and 8) are closed to prevent water 20 from being directed anywhere out above-curb emitter 10 except through outlet 52, as shown in FIG. 3. In this manner, water 20 will not back-up against obstruction 36 and pool on the landscaped area 18, as is known to occur with the prior art emitter 12, and cause the above-described problems. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 through 8, the distal end 54 of protruding section 50 is cut at an angle to provide a profile that better corresponds to the typical curb 36 (as the obstruction) that above-curb emitter 10 can be utilized to direct water 20 away from the landscaped area 18. Alternatively, the distal end 54 of protruding section 50 can be perpendicular to the protruding section 50 or a variety of other shapes.
The above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention comprises a connecting means 64 for connecting the emitter 10 to the riser 22. A variety of such mechanisms are well known in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 3 through 8, connecting means 64 comprises a reduced diameter insert section 66 of sidewall 48 at the first end 46 of body member 42 that is sized and configured to be received inside the upper end 30 of riser 22, as shown in FIG. 3, and joined together with a an solvent or adhesive. Such connections are generally well known by those skilled in the art of drainage system components. Insert section 66 can be integral with the sidewalls 48 and other components of emitter 10 or it can attached to sidewalls 48 utilizing various substances and/or techniques that are appropriate for the materials that comprise sidewalls 48 and riser 22. Alternatively, the first end 46 of body member 42 can be threadably attached to riser 22, with the first end 46 being threadably received inside of riser 22 or the upper end 30 of riser 22 being threadably received inside the tubular first end 46 of body member 42. In addition, various locking or other engagement mechanism configurations, such as those that join two components by rotatably interconnecting the components, can also be utilized to secure the first end 46 of body member 42 to the upper end 30 of riser 22.
In one embodiment, the above-curb emitter 10 is made as an integral component out of materials that are suitable for use in an outdoor environment and for attachment to riser 22, such as a variety of plastics that are commonly utilized for plumbing and/or drainage components which can be manufactured using various injection molding or like techniques. One advantage of utilizing such plastics is that most risers 22 are made from the same or similar material and the insert section 66 can be joined to the riser 22 using commonly available and well known solvent welding materials and techniques. If riser 22 is made out of metal, it is likely to be beneficial to manufacture the insert section 66 or at least the first end 46 of body member 42 out of metal so the components can more easily be threadably joined or welded together, as appropriate. In a preferred embodiment of the above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention, the insert section 66 is made out of plastic to be joined by solvent welding to the upper end 30 of riser 22 and the upper portion of sidewalls 48, protruding section 50 and top wall 56 are made out of a rubber or other substantially flexible material. Use of rubber or the like for the upper components of emitter 10 has the advantage of reducing the likelihood that a vehicle driving over the above-curb emitter 10 will crush, break or otherwise damage emitter 10. Because the present invention is intended to extend over the top of a curb 36 located next to the gutter 32 along street 34, a person driving a vehicle driving near the edge of the street 34 or parking their vehicle along curb 36 could accidently drive over the above-curb emitter 10.
Above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention can be manufactured in a variety of different sizes, as appropriate for the size of the riser 22 and/or obstruction 36 over which the water 20 will be discharged. Any configuration for above-curb emitter 10 must have an extension height 68, shown in FIG. 6, that is sufficient to dispose the protruding section 50 above the top of the obstruction 36 such that the outlet 52 will be position to direct water 20 into conveyance location 32, a shown in FIG. 3. The dimensions of the sidewalls 48 of body member 42 necessary to achieve this positioning is generally dependent on the relative levels of the top edge of the riser 22 and the top edge of the obstruction 36. In one embodiment, the top edge of the riser 22 is at or slightly above the level of the landscaped area 18 and emitter 10 has an extension height 68 that is slightly greater than the curb height 38 of the obstruction 36. The protruding section 50 should have an extension length 70 that is sufficient discharge water 20 over the obstruction 36. As an example, in one embodiment of the present invention the extension length 70 of protruding section 50 can be sufficient to position the outlet 52 at or near the side of curb 36 that is adjacent to the gutter 32 to ensure that the water 20 is diverted to the gutter 32. In many circumstances, however, it will not be necessary to have an extension length 70 that extends protruding section 50 completely to the outer edge of the curb 36 or other obstruction (although care must be taken to ensure water 20 does not flow onto landscaped area 18).
An alternative embodiment of the above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this embodiment, the distal end 54 of protruding section 50 has a closed distal wall 72 that prevents the discharge of water 20 out the distal end 54 and outlet 52 is disposed on the bottom wall 62 of protruding section, as best shown in FIG. 10. To increase the likelihood that the water 20 will be discharged to the conveyance location or gutter 32, the outlet 52 should be positioned substantially at or near the distal end 54 of protruding section 50. A potential disadvantage of this configuration, relative to the outlet 52 being at the distal end 54 of protruding section 50 as shown in FIGS. 3 through 8, is that the extension length 70 is required to be sufficient to place the outlet 52 beyond the outer edge of the curb or other obstruction 36 to prevent the water 20 discharging onto the upper surface of curb 36 and flowing onto landscaped area 18. Placement of the outlet 52 at the distal end 54 of FIGS. 3 through 8 allows more variance in the installation of above-curb emitter 10 and in the relationship between the riser 12, obstruction 36 and conveyance location 32.
As set forth above, the above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention allows the landscape professional, building owner or other person to better manage the water 20 that drains from the landscaped area 18 and so as to direct it to conveyance location 32 so that it will not damage the landscaped area 18 or any landscaping thereon. In use, the user of above-curb emitter 10 of the present invention will install the drain pipe 16, elbow 26 and riser 22 as he or she would normally install such components of the drainage system 40. In a preferred embodiment of such system 40, the top of the riser 22 is positioned at or slightly above the riser 22 and a fixed height (the curb height 38) curb 36 or other obstruction is installed at edge 24 of landscaped area 18. If a plastic insert section 66 is utilized as the connecting means 64 with a plastic riser 22, which is a preferred embodiment, then the user applies a solvent material to the insert section 66 and inserts into the upper end 30 of riser 22. With extension height 68 and extension length 70 properly selected, the protruding section 50 will extend out over the top of the curb/obstruction 36 to direct water from drain pipe 16 out the outlet 52 and to the conveyance location 32, where the water 20 will be conveyed away from landscaped area 18. The preferred drainage system 40 takes into consideration the landscaped area 18, the conveyance location 32, the obstruction 36 size and position, the position of the top edge of the riser 22 and the extension height 68 and extension length 70 dimensions of the above-curb emitter 10.
While there are shown and described herein one or more specific forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.

Claims

1. An above-curb emitter for use with a drainage system having a vertically disposed riser at or near an obstruction; said emitter comprising:

a generally tubular body member having an inlet with an inlet axis at a first end of said body member, one or more sidewalls extending generally upward from said inlet, a protruding section extending outward from one of said sidewalls, an outlet at a distal end of said protruding section and a top wall disposed generally opposite said inlet, said sidewalls and said top wall configured to prevent discharge of water out said body member except through said outlet, said protruding section disposed above said inlet an extension height amount sufficient to dispose said protruding section above said obstruction; and

means at said first end of said body member for connecting said body member to said riser so as to direct water flowing from said riser and through said body member over said obstruction.

2. The above-curb emitter according to claim 1, wherein said obstruction is a curb disposed between a landscaped area and a conveyance location and said protruding section has an extension length sufficient to discharge water into said conveyance section and away from said landscaped area.

3. The above-curb emitter according to claim 2, wherein said conveyance location is a gutter.

4. The above-curb emitter according to claim 3, wherein said extension height exceeds a curb height of said obstruction.

5. The above-curb emitter according to claim 1, wherein said extension height exceeds a curb height of said obstruction.

6. The above-curb emitter according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises an insert section attached to or integral with said body member, said insert section sized and configured to be received in said riser and attached thereto.

7. The above-curb emitter according to claim 6, wherein at least said protruding section is made out of rubber.

8. The above-curb emitter according to claim 7, wherein said insert section is made out of plastic.

9. The above-curb emitter according to claim 1, wherein said outlet is disposed on a bottom wall of said protruding section.

10. The above-curb emitter according to claim 1, wherein said protruding section is disposed generally perpendicular to said inlet axis.

11. An above-curb emitter for use with a drainage system having a vertically disposed riser near a curb disposed between a landscaped area and a gutter so as to direct water from said drainage system over said curb and into said gutter; said emitter comprising:

a generally tubular body member having an inlet at a first end, one or more generally vertical sidewalls defining an inlet axis of said inlet, a protruding section extending outward from one of said sidewalls generally perpendicular to said inlet axis, an outlet at a distal end of said protruding section and a top wall disposed generally opposite said inlet, said sidewalls and said top wall configured to prevent discharge of water out said body member except through said outlet, said protruding section disposed above said inlet an extension height amount sufficient to dispose said protruding section above said curb; and

means at said first end of said body member for connecting said body member to said riser so as to direct water flowing from said riser and through said body member over said curb.

12. The above-curb emitter according to claim 11, wherein said extension height exceeds a curb height of said curb.

13. The above-curb emitter according to claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprises an insert section attached to or integral with said body member, said insert section sized and configured to be received in said riser and attached thereto.

14. The above-curb emitter according to claim 13, wherein at least said protruding section is made out of rubber.

15. The above-curb emitter according to claim 14, wherein said insert section is made out of plastic.

16. The above-curb emitter according to claim 1, wherein said outlet is disposed on a bottom wall of said protruding section.

17. A drainage system, comprising:

a landscaped area;

a conveyance location;

an obstruction disposed between said landscaped area and said conveyance location, said obstruction having a curb height preventing drainage of water from said landscaped area to said conveyance location;

a vertically disposed riser in said landscaped area near said obstruction configured to receive drainage water; and

an above-curb emitter configured to direct water from said riser into said conveyance location, said above-curb emitter having a generally tubular body member with an inlet at a first end, one or more generally vertical sidewalls defining an inlet axis of said inlet, a protruding section extending outward from one of said sidewalls generally perpendicular to said inlet axis, an outlet at a distal end of said protruding section, a top wall disposed generally opposite said inlet and means at said first end of said body member for connecting said body member to said riser so as to direct water flowing from said riser into said body member, said sidewalls and said top wall configured to prevent discharge of water out said body member except through said outlet, said protruding section disposed above said inlet an extension height amount sufficient to dispose said protruding section above said obstruction, said protruding section having an extension length sufficient to discharge water into said conveyance section and away from said landscaped area.

18. The drainage system according to claim 17, wherein said obstruction is a curb and said conveyance location is a gutter.

19. The drainage system according to claim 17, wherein said connecting means comprises an insert section attached to or integral with said body member, said insert section sized and configured to be received in said riser and attached thereto.

20. The drainage system according to claim 19, wherein said protruding section is made out of rubber and said insert section is made out of plastic.