Flexible inlet riser

Abstract

A vertical inlet riser for use with an underground drainage pipe system, includes a main body having a generally hollow cylindrical shape. A plurality of apertures are located in the main body and arranged to permit ground water to be received within the main body. A connection member is located on a lower end of the main body and adapted to mate with the underground drainage pipe system. A resilient flexible material maintains the main body in a generally vertical position when a majority of the main body is extending above the ground, bends the main body upon an incident of force on the main body, and returns the main body to the generally vertical position when the incident of force is removed.

1 . An underground drainage pipe system, comprising: 
 an inlet riser having a main body made of a flexible material adapted to bend when force is applied and return the main body to a generally vertical orientation when force is removed;    a plurality of apertures located in the main body arranged to permit ground water to be received within the main body;    a connection member located on a lower end of the main body; and    a drain pipe secured to the connection member.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a polymer based material.  
   
   
       4 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein a support member is disposed within the main body with sufficient resilient structural integrity to return the main body to the generally vertical position when the incident of force is removed.  
   
   
       5 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 4 , wherein the support member has a coiled spring structure.  
   
   
       6 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the main body includes an outer lip and an inner lip adapted to receive a portion of the underground drainage pipe.  
   
   
       7 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 6 , wherein the connection member includes a retention band encircling the outer lip and inner lip, as well as a plurality of fasteners received through the retention band, the fasteners adapted to secure the retention band, outer lip, and inner lip to the portion of the underground drainage pipe.  
   
   
       8 . The drainage system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection member includes a coupler piece having a lower portion adapted to mate with the portion of the underground drainage pipe and an upper portion adapted to mate with the main body.  
   
   
       9 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 8 , wherein the connection member includes a retention band encircling an outer lip and inner lip, as well as a plurality of fasteners received through the retention band, the fasteners adapted to secure the retention band, outer lip, and inner lip to the upper portion of the coupler piece.  
   
   
       10 . A method of draining surface water for use with an underground drainage pipe system, comprising: 
 providing a vertical inlet riser having a generally hollow cylindrical shape;    providing a plurality of apertures located in the vertical inlet riser arranged to permit ground water to be received within the vertical inlet riser;    providing a connection member located on a lower end of the vertical inlet riser and adapted to mate with a vertical drain pipe;    maintaining vertical inlet riser in a generally vertical position when a majority of the vertical inlet riser is extending above the ground, bending the main body upon an incident of force on the vertical inlet riser, and returning the vertical inlet riser to the generally vertical position when the incident of force is removed; and    draining surface water by intaking surface water with the vertical inlet riser and outletting the surface water into the vertical drain pipe.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical inlet riser is constructed from a flexible material with sufficient resilient structural integrity to return the vertical inlet riser to the generally vertical position when the incident of force is removed.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible material is a polymer based material.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein vertical inlet riser is constructed from a flexible material and a support member is placed in contact with the vertical inlet riser with sufficient resilient structural integrity to return the vertical inlet riser to the generally vertical position when the incident of force is removed.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the support member has a coiled spring structure located within the vertical inlet riser.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lower end of the vertical inlet riser includes an outer lip and an inner lip adapted to receive a portion of the vertical drain pipe therebetween.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the connection member includes a retention band encircling the outer lip and inner lip, as well as a plurality of fasteners received through the retention band, the fasteners adapted to secure the retention band, outer lip, and inner lip to the portion of the vertical drain pipe.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the connection member includes a coupler piece having a lower portion adapted to mate with the portion of the vertical drain pipe and an upper portion adapted to mate with the vertical inlet riser.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the connection member includes a retention band encircling an outer lip and inner lip, as well as a plurality of fasteners received through the retention band, the fasteners adapted to secure the retention band, outer lip, and inner lip to the upper portion of the coupler piece.  
   
   
       19 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 1  wherein the main body includes a closed top.  
   
   
       20 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 1  wherein the main body has a generally cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       21 . The drainage pipe system of  claim 1  wherein the main body extends above ground level.