Deployable rain catching system

Abstract

The invention consists of an umbrella-like section used in an inverted vertical position as a funnel to receive rain water. The center of this foldable funnel is open and allows the water to flow out. The funnel is positioned over a vertical tubular housing, which has the dual purpose of channeling the water to a cistern, and to serve as the housing for the folded funnel. A mechanism consisting of a system of pulleys, and optionally electric motor, extracts and retracts the funnel as required by either human intervention, or automated logical decisions of a control device, or a combination of both, according to the degree of sophistication desired.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 -A system comprising one or a plurality of units capable of extending a flexible folded surface designed to catch rain water.  
   
   
       20 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface.  
   
   
       21 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and including a control unit comprising a combination, but not limited to, a) a self-sustained power source, such as, but not limited to a solar panel associated with a rechargeable battery, b) moisture detecting elements, c) a wind speed detecting device, d) electronic controls with the intelligence to operate the system.  
   
   
       22 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and said tube of a height as determined by the chosen dimensions of the said rain catching surface, to be vertically mounted on the ground.  
   
   
       23 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally.  
   
   
       24 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube.  
   
   
       25 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel.  
   
   
       26 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in an orderly fashion, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs.  
   
   
       27 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft.  
   
   
       28 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats.  
   
   
       29 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys.  
   
   
       30 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube.  
   
   
       31 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position.  
   
   
       32 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit.  
   
   
       33 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects.  
   
   
       34 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects, such mechanical device consisting of, but not limited to a geared down bi-directional motor operating on low voltage direct current.  
   
   
       35 -A system as in claim  19 , comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects, such mechanical device consisting of, but not limited to a geared down bidirectional motor operating on low voltage direct current, and said electromechanical device equipped with means to limit the travel of a funnel assembly between its fully retracted and fully deployed positions.  
   
   
       36 -A system comprising a post supporting power and control devices, the purpose of which is to provide autonomous power and intelligence to operate the system as in claims  19  through  35 , said devices comprising a rechargeable battery, a solar panel equipped with photovoltaic cells, a logic controller making decisions based on weather conditions and system status, and electrical connecting means.