Storm drain filter

Abstract

A storm drain filter assembly includes a frame and several rows of bristles extending down from a top rail of the frame. The frame can be positioned next to a storm drain with the bristles blocking debris from entering the drain while allowing water to flow into the drain. As the frame is lowered toward the ground in front of the drain, brackets on the back of the frame slide between the storm drain surface and other brackets that have been affixed to the storm drain surface, so that when the frame rests on the ground with the bristles covering the storm drain, it is retained in place by the brackets. The frame assembly can be removed simply by lifting the frame up and away from the storm drain.

1 . A storm drain filter assembly, comprising:
 a frame configured for extending substantially across a storm drain;   plural bristles supported by the frame in a vertical orientation when the frame is positioned to cover a storm drain;   at least one frame bracket attached to the frame; and   at least one drain bracket affixable to a storm drain surface adjacent a storm drain, wherein the frame with bristles can be lowered by a person toward a street next to a storm drain such that when the drain bracket is affixed to the storm drain surface the frame bracket engages the drain bracket to hold the frame in front of the storm drain without further connecting structure and with the bristles substantially blocking the storm drain.   
   
   
       2 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the drain bracket is affixed to the storm drain surface the frame bracket is slidable between the drain bracket and the storm drain surface. 
   
   
       3 . The filter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein when the frame bracket is disposed between the drain bracket and the storm drain surface, the frame is configured such that a portion of the frame rests on the ground. 
   
   
       4 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a seal engaged with at least a portion of the frame and disposed against the storm drain surface when the frame bracket is engaged with the drain bracket. 
   
   
       5 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drain bracket is a first drain bracket and the frame bracket is a first frame bracket, and the filter assembly comprises a second drain bracket and a second frame bracket, the first and second drain brackets being affixable to the storm drain surface at opposed ends of the storm drain, the first and second frame brackets being engaged with opposed end portions of the frame, the first and second frame brackets respectively engaging the first and second drain brackets. 
   
   
       6 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame bracket is established by one of: a parallelepiped-shaped plate affixed to the frame with a portion of the plate extending laterally outward past the frame; an L-shaped bracket with an engagement side extending laterally inward beyond a vertical strut of the frame. 
   
   
       7 . The filter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the drain bracket establishes a space between the storm drain surface and the drain bracket when the drain bracket is affixed to the storm drain surface, the portion of the frame bracket plate that extends past the frame being disposed in the space when the frame is positioned to cover the storm drain. 
   
   
       8 . The filter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the drain bracket is a first drain bracket and the frame bracket is a first frame bracket, and the filter assembly comprises a second drain bracket and a second frame bracket, the first and second drain brackets being affixable to the storm drain surface at opposed ends of the storm drain, the first and second frame brackets being engaged with opposed end portions of the frame, the first and second frame brackets respectively engaging the first and second drain brackets. 
   
   
       9 . A method for blocking debris from entering a storm drain while permitting water to flow into the drain, comprising:
 affixing at least one drain bracket to a storm drain surface adjacent the storm drain;   attaching at least one frame bracket to a frame supporting plural bristles;   lowering the frame toward the storm drain such that a bottom portion of the frame rests on the ground, the bristles cover the storm drain, and the brackets engage each other to substantially prevent lateral motion of the of frame relative to the storm drain while permitting the frame to be lifted up and away from the storm drain.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of lowering the frame includes causing the frame bracket to slide between the drain bracket and storm drain surface. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the frame bracket is established by one of: a parallelepiped-shaped plate affixed to the frame with a portion of the plate extending laterally outward past the frame; an L-shaped bracket with an engagement side extending laterally inward beyond a vertical strut of the frame. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the drain bracket establishes a space between the storm drain surface and the drain bracket, the portion of the frame bracket plate that extends past the frame being disposed in the space when the frame is positioned to cover the storm drain. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the drain bracket is a first drain bracket and the frame bracket is a first frame bracket, and a second drain bracket is affixed to the storm drain surface and a second frame bracket is connected to the frame, the first and second drain brackets being affixed to the storm drain surface at opposed ends of the storm drain, the first and second frame brackets being engaged with opposed end portions of the frame, the first and second frame brackets respectively engaging the first and second drain brackets. 
   
   
       14 . A frame assembly for a storm drain defined by a drain opening bounded by a storm drain surface, comprising:
 one or more drain brackets affixed to the storm drain surface;   a frame sized and configured substantially like the drain opening, the frame being associated with means for blocking the drain opening at least to solid matter but substantially not to prevent water from flowing into the drain opening; and   one or more frame brackets coupled to the frame, each frame bracket being engaged with a respective drain bracket to hold the frame adjacent the storm drain surface with the bristles juxtaposed with the drain opening.   
   
   
       15 . The filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the frame bracket is disposed between the drain bracket and the storm drain surface. 
   
   
       16 . The filter assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the frame is configured such that a portion of the frame rests on the ground when the brackets are engaged with each other. 
   
   
       17 . The filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the drain bracket is a first drain bracket and the frame bracket is a first frame bracket, and the filter assembly comprises a second drain bracket and a second frame bracket, the first and second drain brackets being affixed to the storm drain surface at opposed ends of the storm drain, the first and second frame brackets being engaged with opposed end portions of the frame, the first and second frame brackets respectively engaging the first and second drain brackets. 
   
   
       18 . The filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the frame bracket is established by one of: a parallelepiped-shaped plate affixed to the frame with a portion of the plate extending laterally outward past the frame; an L-shaped bracket with an engagement side extending laterally inward beyond a vertical strut of the frame. 
   
   
       19 . The filter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the drain bracket establishes a space between the storm drain surface and the drain bracket, the portion of the frame bracket plate that extends past the frame being disposed in the space. 
   
   
       20 . The filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the means for blocking includes plural bristles.