US20100180618A1

US20100180618A1 - Water collection device

Info

Publication number: US20100180618A1
Application number: US12/619,808
Authority: US
Inventors: William J. Gavan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-16
Filing date: 2009-11-17
Publication date: 2010-07-22

Abstract

A water collection device for collecting water at least one of condensing, dripping, flowing, running, and a combination thereof from an exhaust portion of an air conditioner includes a housing having an open ended top portion for placement at least one of beneath an exhaust portion of such air conditioner, closely adjacent an exhaust portion of such air conditioner, and a combination thereof. Water enters such housing through such top portion for collection. An aperture is disposed through at least one of a side wall, a bottom wall and a combination thereof of such housing. An attachment mechanism is operably connected to such aperture. A hose is releasably attachable at a first end thereof to such housing via such attachment mechanism and receives collected water flowing through such aperture into such hose. Such water exits a second end of such hose for dispersal to a predetermined area.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/145,167 filed Jan. 16, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to water collection devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to a device for use in collecting water which condenses on air conditioning units and from the exhaust portions of such air conditioning units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, air conditioners, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to keep houses and other buildings cool in uncomfortably warm climates. While it is useful to control the temperature of the interior of such structures, when in use, air conditioners produce condensation and water run off which drips and runs from such air conditioners onto the ground at the base of such structures where it may cause moisture buildup ultimately resulting in structural damage to foundations and walls. Moreover, such moisture also has a tendency to attract termites.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Turner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,308, discloses a plant watering device which includes a collector for temporarily collecting rainwater therein and a mounting mechanism for removably mounting the collector on a roof of a house.
Harvey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,303, discloses a downspout water conservation diversion adaptor for placement within the lower part of an upstanding downspout to transport water flowing downward through the downspout laterally outwardly of the adaptor and along a building wall outwardly for irrigation of ground vegetation disposed beneath the eaves of a roof on such building.
Carey, II, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,474, discloses a method and system for applying a water gathering and channeling roof covering onto the upper roof of a building for forming a water collecting trough for gathering rain water.
Thomas, U.S. Publication No. 2008/0078190, discloses a method for utilizing water that is a by product of central air conditioning units that are placed on the roofs of high rises and on central raised locations.
McKee, U.S. Publication No. 2006/0185733, discloses a gravity flow drain extension adapted for attachment to an exit opening of a condensation drain line.
Martinez, U.S. Publication No. 2002/0170979, discloses a drainage system for watering plants which includes a first and second container for water storage, tubing, pump, timer, pump controller, filter, pressure reducer, and emitters for watering the plants. The system is meant to recycles drain off water from an air conditioner to make the water usable for plants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a water collection device for use in collecting water at least one of condensing, dripping, flowing, running, and a combination thereof from an exhaust portion of an air conditioner. Such water collection device includes a housing member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. Such housing member includes an open ended top portion. Such housing member is for placement at least one of beneath an exhaust portion of such air conditioner, closely adjacent to an exhaust portion of such air conditioner, and a combination thereof such that such water will enter such housing member through such open top portion of such housing member for collection therein. Such housing member further includes an aperture disposed through at least one of a side wall of thereof, a bottom wall thereof, and a combination thereof through which such collected water may pass. An attachment means is operably connected to such aperture for use in releasably attaching a hose member to such housing member closely adjacent such aperture. An open ended hose member is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. Such hose member is releasably attachable at a first end thereof to such housing member closely adjacent such aperture via such attachment means. Such hose member receives such collected water via such aperture and thereafter disperses it to a predetermined area. Such collected water exits such hose member out of a second end thereof.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an easy to use water collection device to catch water that condenses on and drips from an air conditioner. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for preventing water from dripping from an air conditioning unit and settling at the base of a home, such device thereby preventing mold growth, structural damage, insect infestation, pest problems, moisture problems, and the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to use device for collecting otherwise wasted water which can then be used to water trees, plants, grass, gardens, and the like thereby conserving natural resources.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a condensation catching device to collect water which condenses from use of an air conditioning unit for use in watering plants, trees, a lawn, etc. thereby decreasing a user's water expenses.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial cut away view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-5.
The present invention provides a water collection device, generally designated 10, for use in collecting water 11, such water at least one of condensing, dripping, flowing, running, and a combination thereof from an exhaust portion 16 of an air conditioner 12.
Such water collection device 10 includes a housing member 14 manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. It is presently preferred that such first predetermined shape is selected from the group consisting of generally rectangular, generally round, generally conical, and a combination thereof. It is further presently preferred that such first predetermined shape is generally round and preferably has a diameter of between about 10 inches and about 12 inches. It is presently most preferred that such housing member 14 is substantially bucket shaped. It is presently preferred that such housing member 14 is between about 12 inches and about 16 inches high and can hold about 5 gallons of liquid.
Such housing member 14 includes an open ended top portion 15 and is for placement at least one of beneath such exhaust portion 16 of such air conditioner 12, closely adjacent to such exhaust portion 16 of such air conditioner 12, and a combination thereof such that such water 11 will enter such housing member 14 through such top portion 15 of such housing member 14 for collection therein.
Such housing member 14 further includes an aperture 32 disposed through at least one of a side wall 34 thereof, a bottom wall 36 thereof, and a combination thereof through which such collected water 11 may pass.
An attachment means 17 is operably connected to such aperture 32 for use in releasably attaching a hose member to such housing member 14 closely adjacent such aperture 32 for receiving such collected water.
An open ended hose member 18 is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. Such hose member 18 is releasably attachable at a first end 36 thereof to such housing member 14 closely adjacent such aperture 32 for receiving such collected water 11. Such hose member 18 receives such water 11 via such collected water flowing through such aperture 32 and thereafter through such hose member to an open second end 42 thereof. Such collected water is dispersed to a predetermined area when such water 11 exits such hose member 18 out of such second end 42.
It is presently preferred that such attachment means 17 includes a first portion 25 disposed on such housing member 14 and a second portion 26 disposed on such first end 36 of such hose member 18. It is further presently preferred that such first portion 25 is one of a threaded male portion and a threaded female portion and such second portion 26 is an opposite one of such threaded male portion and such threaded female portion, such threaded female portion being screwable onto such threaded male portion.
It is presently preferred that such hose member 18 includes a nozzle 44 attachable to such second end 42 of such hose member 18 such that a user may attach such nozzle 44 and further direct flow of such collected water 11.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A water collection device for use in collecting water at least one of condensing, dripping, flowing, running, and a combination thereof from an exhaust portion of an air conditioner, such water collection device comprising:

a. a housing member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size, said housing member including an open ended top portion, such housing member for placement at least one of beneath an exhaust portion of such air conditioner, closely adjacent to an exhaust portion of such air conditioner, and a combination thereof such that such water will enter such housing member through said top portion of said housing member for collection therein, said housing member further including an aperture disposed through at least one of a side wall of said housing member, a bottom wall of said housing member, and a combination thereof through which such water may pass;

b. an attachment means operably connected to said aperture for use in releasably attaching a hose member to said housing member closely adjacent said aperture;

c. an open ended hose member manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape, such hose member being releasably attachable at a first end thereof to said housing member closely adjacent said aperture, said hose member for receiving such water via said aperture and for dispersing such water to a predetermined area via such water exiting said hose member out of a second end thereof.

2. A water collection device according to claim 1 wherein said attachment means includes a first portion disposed on said housing member and a second portion disposed on said first end of said hose member.

3. A water collection device according to claim 2 wherein said first portion is one of a threaded male portion and a threaded female portion and said second portion is an opposite one of said threaded male portion and said threaded female portion, said threaded female portion being screwable onto said threaded male portion.

4. A water collection device according to claim 1 wherein said hose member includes a nozzle releasably attached to said second end of said hose member.

5. A water collection device according to claim 1 wherein said housing member is between about 12 inches and about 16 inches high.

6. A water collection device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined shape is selected from the group consisting of generally rectangular, generally round, generally conical, and a combination thereof.

7. A water collection device according to claim 6 wherein said first predetermined shape is generally round.

8. A water collection device according to claim 7 wherein said housing member has a diameter of between about 10 inches and about 12 inches.

9. A water collection device according to claim 1 wherein said housing member is substantially bucket shaped.