US3493204A - Adjustable supports for and/or incorporated in liquid conduits used principally in conjunction with waste systems of travel trailers and mobile homes - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1970 M. L. PROUTY 3,493,204

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS FOR AND/OR mconromxmn IN LIQUID CONDUITS USED PRINCIPALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH WASTE SYSTEMS OF TRAVEL TRAILERS AND MOBILE norms Filed Nov. 24, 196'! 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

: MELVIN L. PPO'U TY BY 4 M. L. PROUTY Feb. 3, 1970 3,493,204 IQUID CONDUITS SYSTEMS OF ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS FOR AND R INCORPORATED IN L USED PRINCIPALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH WASTE TRAVEL TRAILERS AND MOBILE HOMES Filed Nov.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MELVIN L. P/POUT Feb. 3, 1970 M. L. PROUTY 7 3,493,204

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS FOR AND/OR INCORPORATED IN LIQUID CONDUITS USED PRINCIPALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH WASTE SYSTEMS OF TRAVEL TRAILERS AND MOBILE HOMES Filed Nov. 24, 19s? 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

IMELV/N L. PPOUTY BY Feb. 3, 1970 M. PROUTY 3,493,204

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS FOR AND/0R INCORPORATED IN LIQUID CONDUITS USED PRINCIPALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH WASTE SYSTEMS 0F 7 TRAVEL TRAILERS AND MOBILE HOMES Filed Nov. 24, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

lMELV/N L. PPOUTY BY U.S. Cl. 243-49 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Supporting assemblies are made as part of a liquid conduit or made as an accessory therefore to position flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid conduit on a substantially uniform gradual decline, as for example, from a travel trailer or mobile home waste outlet to a ground inlet of a trailer park. These supporting assemblies comprise elongated ground contacting rods which are preferably pointed and frictionally held in transverse, opposed sloping positions at selected variable places along their rod lengths to provide elevational changes of liquid conduit. These rods are so positioned by passing portions of them through apertures formed in spaced, deflectable tabs 0r ear like projections arranged in at least two oppositely located groups of at least two tabs each, which are originally incorporated circumferentially into such liquid conduit, or are furnished as part of a substantially complete wrap around support body, sleeve, or collar. The selection of correct active supporting lengths of these elongated ground contacting rods from the gripping tabs or cars to the ground results in the selective overall positioning of a completely continuously drainable liquid conduit.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Where permanent drains cannot be located directly below or reasonably nearby the drain openings of travel trailers, mobile homes, truck-campers, and other mobile and/ or temporary living accommodations, there is always a need for a run of fluid conduit. Moreover, there is a need for the run or length of conduit to be gradually decreasing in elevation, so all waste liquids and materials carried thereby will continuously drain into permanent drains and sewers of such trailer parks and other similar areas. Therefore most travel trailers or the like are equipped with sections of conduit but not always with supports for such conduit. Also, even though the drain line outlets of various types of mobile living units can be positioned close to sewer inlets, support facilities are necessary for flexible drain lines. They are necessitated by the preference of keeping the drain hose in its original standard length of either 8 or 10 feet when it is fully extended. On a shorter run, then the standard length is curved while being gradually lowered in elevation. Where such conduits are to be used, supports are often made at each stopping place from odd lots of available materials. Some supports are known to be available in groups, each support being of a pro-selected elevation. Generally all are reasonably bulky and not as conveniently set up, adjusted, and taken down for compact enroute storage when compared to these adjustable conduit supports.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION A drain line is made available which may be uniformly lowered from an entry to an exit to insure complete discharge at all times, as spaced units of adjustable legs are set at different effective lengths between respec- States Patent 0 3,493,294 Patented Feb. 3, 1970 tive gripping tabs supported alongside the drain line and actual ground surfaces below these paired tabs. Then when storage of a drain line is undertaken in preparation for moving a travel trailer, other vehicle, or housing unit, removal of legs and their bundling is conveniently undertaken by quick finger manipulation of tabs and legs.

The support sleeves may remain in place on the conduit, at all times, for the combination conduit or drain line and the support sleeves retains sufiicient flexibility during its set up as a drain and for its storage during travel. The removability of the support sleeves has a particular distinct advantage when a conduit section is damaged, for they may be removed and reused on a replacement conduit section of a drain line. Their radially directed release is handled quickly after conveniently expanding and withdrawing the retaining loops of elastic material.

DRAWINGS At the outset of introducing these adjustable conduit supports to potential users, an accessory embodiment is being offered because most users presently have conduits which are devoid of any attachment or support facilities or of any convenient facilities. However, as these conduit supports become more widely known, production of conduits having supports initially incorporated into conduit structure will be expanded especially for outfitting a new travel trailer, mobile home or other vehicle having such a need.

The preferred accessory embodiment is first illustrated in the drawings followed by a view of incorporated conduit supports. In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a travel trailer indicating how conduit supports are selectively used to position a discharge fluid conduit as it extends from a trailer discharge drain fitting to a trailer park sewer entry drain fitting;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a conduit showing conduit supports arranged to insure complete drainage of the conduit;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a conduit support showing how a supporting collar, tabs on the collar, adjustable legs positioned by the tabs and an overall securing mem- 1her are all arranged about a conduit indicated with dotted mes;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of a conduit support, also shown in FIGURE 3, showing how a supporting collar, tabs on the collar, adjustable legs positioned by the tabs and an overall securing member are all arranged about a conduit indicated with dotted lines; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of a conduit originally produced with tabs which are shown holding adjustable legs in the same manner as indicated in FIG- URES 1 through 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Accessory embodiment As illustrated in FIGURE 1, there is a need for hooking up a drain line 16 when a travel trailer 20 is parked in a trailer court. Moreover, as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2, a drain line 16 should be installed to drain properly. This requires a progressively decreasing elevation of each conduit portion or section 28 of a drain 16 to avoid pockets or depressions.

Generally each travel trailer carries a section 28 or sections of conduit in 8 or 10 foot lengths each selectively having a diameter, equalling or approximating, 2, 2 /2, 3 or 3 /2 inches which are used for such drains. Very few travel trailers carry shorter sections.

Each conduit section 28 is generally made of a plastic material which is flexible within reasonable tolerances.

Therefore it is supported at spaced locations each at a different elevation. If a ground surface is substantially uniform, spaced supports 12 are progressively shorter in length. If a ground surface is irregular, spaced supports 12 must be carefully tailored in length to insure a uniform decrease in elevation of drain line 16. A drain 16 or conduit 28 is often gradually curved to direct waste to a ground drain pipe fitting 22 which may not be located directly in line with a discharge fitting 18 on a travel trailer 2, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Within these environmental specifications an accessory embodiment 12 of conduit supports, shown in FIGURES 1 through 4, are presently providing overall support for drain lines 16, meeting all drainage requirements and furthermore meeting all handling and storage requirements whether an accessory embodiment 12 is stored and handled separately, in whole, or in part with respect to handling and storing conduit sections 28. At all times all operations are conveniently undertaken and storage facilities required are kept at a minimum.

These drainage, handling and storing advantages are realized because of the construction and utilization of accessory embodiment 12 illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 and also of semi-self-contained embodiment 14 illustrated in FIGURE 5. In FIGURES 1 and 2, a run of drain line 16 is illustrated as being supported by spaced accessory embodiments 12 as drain line 16 is extended from discharge outlet 18 on travel trailer 20 to a ground fitting 22 located on property of a trailer court.

Each accessory embodiment 12 is preferably composed of a flexible sleever 26, which is longer along on its bottom 27 for rendering support as it is wrapped about a conduit section 28 of a drain line 16. Tabs or ears 30, 32, 34 and 36 are formed on each flexible sleeve 26 in pairs, one pair being located on each side of the sleeve 26 and composed of an upper and lower tab. Each tab is preferably shaped from sleeve material by making an accurate cut 38 and then bending the tab outwardly from conduit section 28 about an imaginary axis extending between the termini 40 of cut 38. The termini 40 of the cuts are circular or any other shape serving the twofold purposes of preventing tearing of the ends of cuts 38 and providing an anchoring notch 40 for a securing member 46. With respect to each pair of tabs, accurate cuts 38 are spaced apart and arranged so bending and raising of each tab brings their respective swinging ends closer together. Materials used, however, in making flexible sleeve 26 are semi-rigid so tabs 30, 32, 34 and 36 will all tend to remain near to their initial cut out location until forced closer together.

These tab characteristics are used to functionally and adjustably hold rods or legs 42 after they are passed through holes 44 made in the near center of each tab as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Positioning of legs 42, each supported by a pair of tabs 32, 34, 36 or 30 is undertaken by pivoting respective paired tabs together to commence to align their holes 44 without fully reaching an outward position of each tab. Thereafter a rod or leg 42 is threaded down through holes '44 to ground level. Upon release of respective tabs they tend to return to their near sleeve position. In so doing they frictionally grip leg 42 more securely at their hole locations.

Each flexible sleeve 26 is held in place by using a loop of preferably elastic material 46 that is passed around all tabs, with bottom tabs 32, 36 on each side serving to anchor elastic loop 46. With the loops 46 in place and all legs 42 installed, each accessory embodiment 12 is performing its supporting function.

The spacing of several accessory embodiments 12 along conduit sections 28, each one having its legs properly adjusted to uniformly decrease the elevation of drain line 16 from trailer discharge 18 to sewer intake or ground fitting 22 provides excellent drainage for all waste materials. This functional result is also possible 4 when tabs are initially made a part of conduit sections 50 by molding, bonding, etc.

Conduit with tabs embodiment Although an accessory embodiment will always be useful where standard conduit 28 is to be used, conduit 50 is also formed initially with tabs 30, 32, 34, 36 bonded to it or fabricated from it so that auxiliary sleeves with tabs are not necessary. Insertion of legs 42 is undertaken in like manner to their insertion in accessory embodiment 12. Their effective heights between paired tabs 30, 32 or 34, 36 and the ground 24 will be set to position drain line 16 so waste liquids and materials will flow completely through all portions of conduits 50. There are no pockets to collect waste which will be difficult to remove upon subsequent flushings creating initialy and thereafter sources of odors and congestion.

Handling and storage of embodiments Whether tabs 30, 32, 34, 36 are made available by using a sleeve 26, which also gives extra support to some flexible conduits 28 or by incorporating tabs into flexible conduits 50 of sufiicient strength, their utilization to adjustably receive and hold rods or legs 42 on a bias is the basis for extreme convenience in handling and storing an excellent drain line 16.

Each travel trailer 20 or vehicle having a like need has a rather compact storage area for holding drain line equipment when underway. The size limitation requires storing conduit 28, 50 without hindrance of its supporting legs 42. So underway they are removed by finger manipulation of tabs and then bundled together. In respect to accessory embodiment 12, sleeves 26 generaly remain in place on conduit 28 without hampering storage. By so doing, dismantling and erection of the drain line is greatly facilitated. However, sleeves 26 may be removed after releasing their respective loops of elastic material 46 and stored separately.

Materials and sizes of a specific accessory embodiment A preferred relationship of materials, sizes and thicknesses is indicated by the following examples:

Conduit materials are made from various plastics or rubber compounds, with or without fabric reinforcement.

Sleeve materials are made of polyethylene or similar plastics, from sheets, tubes or molded piece, ranging in thickness from to in thickness; preferably Leg materials are made in rod form having any cross section size and made of a weather resistant quality, all having sufficient strength for moderate support such as polystyrene 'rods' of diameters A through diam eter or metal rods possibly of smaller diameter; preferably W Retaining loop materials are made from any good quality rubber band or other elastic material of proper loop size and sufficient strength.

I claim:

1. A drain line for conveying sewage and other wastes from housing units; such as travel trailers, mobile homes, campers, car homes and temporary dwelling quarters, into entrances located at ground level of sewer systems, the drain line being lightweight, requiring very little additional storage space when carried by a travel trailer, and comprising:

(a) conduit drain section (b) reinforcement sleeves for attachment to conduit drain section at spaced locations (c) fasteners to secure reinforcement sleeves to conduit sections;

(d) tabs on the reinforcement sleeves arranged in pairs to be positioned on opposite sides of the conduit section and in each pair, tabs are in turn spaced and formed with a hole, these holes being aligned upon bending the tabs of each pair toward one another against their inherent return force;

(e) a pair of legs, each respectively passed through aligned holes of a pair of tabs to a selected dis tance of overall length of each respective leg, and upon release of the tabs, these legs are firmly held in their selected effective length position to hold a portion of a conduit drain section above the ground, so that an overall drain line will have a constant decrease in elevation.

2. An accessory supporting means adapted to position a conduit drain section from a housing unit, such as a travel trailer, mobile home, camper, car home and temporary dwelling quarters to a ground level entry of a sewer system, the accessory means, comprising:

(a) reinforcement sleeves adapted for attachment to a conduit drain section at spaced locations;

(b) fasteners to secure reinforcement sleeves to a conduit section;

(c) tabs on the reinforcement sleeves arranged in pairs to be eventually positioned on opposite sides of a conduit section, and in each pair, tabs are inturn spaced and formed with a hole, these holes being aligned upon bending the tabs of each pair toward one another against their inherent return force;

(d) a pair of legs, each respectively passed through aligned holes of a pair of tabs to a selected distance of overall length of each respective leg, and upon release of the tabs, these legs are firmly held in their selective effective length position to hold a portion of a conduit drain section above the ground, so that an overall drain line will have a constant decrease in elevation.

3. An accessory supporting means, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fasteners used in securing the reinforcement sleeves to a conduit section, are loops of resilient material stretched from around the lower tab of one pair of tabs on one side of a reinforcement to the lower tab of another pair of tabs on the other side of a reinforcement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Shay 24-243 Brown 248--84 Licata 248-87 X Jones 24883 Schroeter 248-49 Tatsch 138106 X Bittner- 24849 US. Cl. X.R.

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