US3714733A

US3714733A - Insect guard for sewer and drain openings

Info

Publication number: US3714733A
Application number: US00086133A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Madonna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-11-02
Filing date: 1970-11-02
Publication date: 1973-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-02-06

Abstract

A CYLINDRICAL SHAPED TUBE IS MADE OF A LOW COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION MATERIAL AND HAS A FLANGE AT ITS UPPER END SO THAT IT CAN BE INSERTED INTO SEWER OR DRAIN OPENINGS. CENTRALL DISPOSED ON THE INSIDE OF THE CYLINDRICAL SHAPED TUBE ARE MEANS FOR PREVENTING INSECTS FROM CRAWLING UPWARDLY THERETHROUGH. THE DISCLOSURE SHOWS THREE DISTINCT EMBODIMENTS OF SUCH CENTRALLY DISPOSED MEANS, AMONG WHICH ARE TWO MECHANICAL MEANS WHICH COMPLETELY CLOSE UP THE SEWER OR DRAIN OPENINGS AND ANOTHER MEANS WHICH PRESENTS A PHYSICAL OBSTACLE TO INSECTS ALONG WITH MEANS FOR POISONING THE INSECTS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO CRAWL UPWARDLY THROUGH THE TUBE.

Description

Feb. 6,1973 M. A. MADONNA INSECT GUARD FOR SEWER AND DRAIN OPENINGS Filed Nov. 2, 1970 FIG. 4

INVENTOR MICHAEL A. MADONNA Fflg w ATTOR Y United States Patent 3,714,733 INSECT GUARD FOR SEWER AND DRAIN OPENINGS Michael A. Madonna, 1900 Thunderbird Ave., Florissant, Mo. 63033 Filed Nov. 2, 1970, Ser. No. 86,133 Int. Cl. A01m N20 US. Cl. 43-121 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cylindrical shaped tube is made of a low coeflicient of friction material and has a flange at its upper end so that it can be inserted into sewer or drain openings. Centrall disposed on the inside of the cylindrical shaped tube are means for preventing insects from crawling upwardly therethrough. The disclosure shows three distinct embodiments of such centrally disposed means, among which are two mechanical means which completely close up the sewer or drain openings and another means which presents a physical obstacle to insects along with means for poisoning the insects as they attempt to crawl upwardly through the tube This invention relates to new and useful improvements in insect guards for sewer and drain openings wherein it is desired to provide devices to prevent insects from entering a building through sewer and drain openings.

One method ordinarily used to prevent insects from entering into a building through sewer and drain openings is to seal the openings by inserting a plug or stopper in the opening. The disadvantage of this method is obvious in that it prevents the sewer drain from serving its intended purpose of allowing water to exit from the buildmg.

Another method used to prevent insects from entering into a building through sewer and drain openings is to thoroughly spray the inside of them with insecticide. The disadvantage of this method is that within a short time the insecticide is washed away by water leaving the building through the sewer and drain openings, thus requiring that insecticide be applied on a regular basis.

It is the main object of this invention to provide devices which can be easily inserted in sewer and drain openings to prevent insects from entering buildings through the sewer and drain openings.

Another object of this invention is to provide insect guards for sewer and drain openings which have low coefficients of friction and thus prevent insects from obtaining a secure footing and crawling up into a building through sewer and drain openings.

Still another object of this invention is to provide insect guards for sewer and drain openings having an overhanging lip providing an additional obstacle for insects to overcome in their attempt to enter into sewer and drain openings.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sewer liner with an insecticide-impregnated pad under an overhanging lip so as to poison any insects which attempt to enter a building through sewer and drain openings.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an insect guard for sewer and drain openings having flexible flaps which will open when water is flowing through the sewer and drain openings and which will completely close the sewer opening when there is no flow of water.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an insect guard for sewer and drain openings having a springloaded flap which will open when water is flowing through 3,714,733 Patented Feb. 6, 1973 the sewer and which will close when there is no Water flow.

With the above more important objects and advantages in view, and other objects and advantages as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the invention installed in a sewer or drain opening.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modification of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of another modification of the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several 'VleWS.

Referring now to the drawings, an insect guard for sewer and drain openings 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a substantially cylindrically shaped tube 12 having an inside face 14, an outside face 16, and terminating at its lengthwise ends in a lower edge 18 and a flange 20 as can be more fully see in FIG. 1. The flange 20 has a lower surface 22, an upper surface 24, and an outer surface 26. The upper surface 24 is provided with a funnel shaped opening 28 which leads to a passageway 30 that terminates at its lower end in an outlet 32 on the inside face 14. as can be fully seen in FIG. 2.

Integrally attached to the inside face 14 at a point between the lower edge 18 and the flange 20 is a conical shaped lip 34 which slopes downwardly from the inside face 14 towards the lower edge 18 and which terminates in an opening 36 below the conically shaped lip 34, and in juxtaposition to it and the inside face 14 is a circular shaped trough 38 into which the outlet 32 opens and which contains an absorbent pad 40. The absorbend pad 40 is adapted for treatment with an insecticide which is protected from being washed out of the absorbent pad 40 by the conically shaped lip 43 which prevents the flow of water through the insect guard 10 from impinging upon said absorbent pad or flowing into the trough 38.

In operation on insect guard 10 is chosen so that its outside diameter is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the sewer or drain opening 42 in which it will be used. The insect guard 10 then is inserted into a sewer or drain opening 42 so that the lower surface 22 lies in contact with the top of the sewer of drain opening 42. The absorbent pad 40 is then treated by pouring insecticide down the funnel shaped opening 28 so as to completely fill the trough 38.

It is to be understood that the insect guard 10 will be made of a material having a low coefiicient of friction such as Teflon, nylon, or gel-coated Fiberglas, etc. Thus, any insect attempting to enter a building through a sewer or drain opening 42 in which the present invention is used will have difliculty in obtaining a secure footing on the low coefiicient of friction material. Any insect capable of climbing approximately half way up the insect guard 10 will first come in contact with the absorbent pad 40 coated with insecticide. In climbing over the absorbent pad 40 the insect will receive a lethal dose of poison which will ultimately kill it. At that point the poisoned insect will face the further obstacle of climbing over the downward projecting conical shaped lip 34 as can be further seen from FIG. 2. It will be virtually impossible for an insect to secure the necessary footing to cross the conical shaped lip 34 which also is made of the same low coefiicient of friction material as the insect guard 10.

Another embodiment of the insect guard 44 for sewer and drain openings is shown in FIG. 3. An insect guard 44 made in accordance with this embodiment is shown to include a substantially cylindrically shaped tube 46 having an inside face 48, an outside face 50, and terminating at its lengthwise ends in a lower edge 52 and a flange 54. The flange 54. has a lower surface 56, an upper surface 58, and an outside surface 60. Integrally attached to the inside face 48 at a point about midway between the lower edge 52 and the flange 54, is a plurality of flexible flaps 62 which form, when in their undistended position, a conical section 64. This embodiment of the insect guard 44 is inserted into a sewer or drain opening 42 in the same manner as the insect guard 10. In use the insect guard 44 prevents any insects from entering a building through a sewer or drain opening since the flaps 62, when in an undistended position, present a solid barrier to any insects that are able to first climb up the low coefiicient of friction inside face 48 so as to reach the flaps.

The insect guard 44 will be constructed of a flexible material having a low coeflicient of friction.

In use an insect guard 44 of the proper diameter is chosen to fit the sewer or drain opening 42. The insect guard 44 is then inserted into the sewer or drain opening 42 so that the lower surface 56 lies in contact with the top of the sewer or drain opening.

When water is flowing through the insect guard 44 the flexible flaps will be depressed by the water pressure allowing it to escape from the building. When there is no flow of water the flaps 62 will return to their original position forming the conical section 64 and thus preventing any insects from entering the building. It should be noted that the flexible flaps 62, because of their design, will only slightly impede the flow of water leaving through the sewer or drain opening 42.

Still another embodiment of the insect guard 66 is shown in FIG. 4. An insect guard for sewer and drain openings 66 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a substantially cylindrical shaped tube 68 having an inside face 70, an outside face 72, and terminating at its lengthwise ends in a lower edge 74 and a flange 76 as can be more fully seen in FIG. 4. The flange 76 has a lower surface 78, an upper surface 86*, and an outside surface 82.

Integrally attached to the inside face 70 at a point about midway between the lower edge 74 and the flange 76 is a concentric constriction 84 which terminates at its center in a circular opening 86. Inserted in the circular opening 86 is a flapper door 88, which is hinged to the concentric constriction by a hinge 90*. A spring 92 is attached at one end to the upper portion of the flapper door 88 and at the other end to the inside face 70 so that the flapper. door 88 is maintained in a closed position when water is not exiting through the sewer or drain pipe. When in use the pressure of the water forces the flapper door 88 downward, placing the spring 92 in tension which is in equilibrium with the water pressure.

In operation an insect guard 66 of the proper diameter is chosen to fit the sewer or drain opening 42. The insect guard 66 is then inserted into the sewer or drain opening 42 so that the lower surface 78 lies in contact with the top of the sewer or drain opening 42.

When water is flowing through the insect guard 66 the flapper door 88 will be forced open by the water pressure allowing it to escape from the building. When the flow of water stops, the spring 92 will return the flapper door 88 to its closed position, thus preventing insects from entering the building. The spring constant of spring 92 will be such that it will take only a slight amount of pressure to open the flapper door 88, thereby preventing water from accumulating in the area of the sewer or drain opening 42.

It is to be understood that the sewer guards 10', 44 and 66 may be made of any low coeflicient of friction material such as Teflon, nylon or gel-coated Fiberglas which are somewhat (flexible so that they may be forced into a sewer or drain opening 42. In addition, the insect guards may be made of varying lengths and diameters to accommodate various sewer and drain pipe openings.

While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of sewer guards to prevent insects from entering buildings through sewer and drain pipes, it is apparent that numerous alternatives, deletions and additions may be made without department from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An insect guard for sewer and drain openings comprising a cylindrical shaped member having an outside diameter less than that of the sewer and drain openings and made of a low coeflicient of friction material, a flanged member secured to the upper end of the cylindrical shaped member, and a plurality of means for preventing insects from crawling through the cylindrical shaped member being disposed centrally to it, so that said cylindrical shaped member may be inserted into sewer and drain openings for the purposes of allowing waste water to flow down through it and to prevent insects from crawling up through it.

2. An insect guard for sewer and drain openings in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of means for preventing insects from crawling through the cylindrical shaped member consists of a conical shaped lip, a trough, an absorbent pad which lies within the trough, and means for filling the trough with an insecticide.

3. An insect guard for sewer and drain openings in accordance with claim 2 wherein the conical shaped lip slopes downwardly and terminates at its lower end in an opening through which waste water can flow down through the cylindrical shaped member.

4. An insect guard for sewer and drain openings in accordance with claim 3 wherein the absorbent pad and trough lie below the conical shaped lip and are in juxtaposition with it so that they coact with the low coeflicient of friction material of the cylindrical shaped member, and thus prevent insects from crawling upward through the cylindrical shaped member.

5. An insect guard for sewer and drain openings in accordance with claim 2 wherein the means for filling the trough with an insecticide consists of a funnel shaped opening in the flanged member, a passageway through the cylindrical shaped member and lower outlet to the trough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,768 12/1936 Statfel 43-131 2,856,724 10/1958 Bodenbach et a1. 43-131 3,429,084 2/ 1969 Brewer 43-421 WA'RNER H. CAMP, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.-R. 43--131