Storm drain system

Abstract

A storm drain system is provided. The storm drain system incorporates a vertical grate and embodies a method of adapting the vertical grate for allowing sufficient water flow through a vertical opening portion of a storm drain while filtering out debris that would otherwise flow through the vertical opening portion, polluting waterways the storm drain fed into. The vertical grate providing a plurality of intersecting members across the vertical portion for filtering the debris, and helping prevent backed up drains which could render the storm drain ineffective during heavy rains.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for filtering debris from a vertical portion of a storm drain, comprising:
 a storm drain providing the vertical opening portion along a vertical support surface and a horizontal opening portion; and   a vertical grate secured in front of or within the vertical opening portion so that the vertical grate surface is oriented transverse relative to the horizontal opening portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mounting plate extending from the vertical grate so as to abut the vertical supporting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical grate further comprises a peripheral frame supporting a plurality of intersecting first and second members. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one of bag catch extending from either one of the plurality of first or second members to a portion of the peripheral frame nearest the bottom opening portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a supporting beam disposed between the vertical and horizontal opening portions, and wherein the vertical grate is supported in part by the supporting beam. 
     
     
         6 . A system for filtering debris from a vertical portion of a storm drain, comprising:
 a storm drain providing the vertical opening portion along a vertical support surface and a horizontal opening portion;   a supporting beam disposed between the vertical and horizontal opening portions;   a vertical grate secured in front of or within the vertical opening portion so that the vertical grate surface is oriented transverse relative to the horizontal opening portion, wherein the vertical grate is supported in part by the supporting beam; and   the vertical grate comprising:
 a peripheral frame supporting a plurality of intersecting first and second members; 
 at least one of bag catch extending from either one of the plurality of first or second members to a portion of the peripheral frame nearest the bottom opening portion; and 
 at least one mounting plate extending from the peripheral frame so as to abut the vertical supporting surface. 
   
     
     
         7 . A method of improving a pre-existing storm drain having a vertical opening portion along a vertical support surface and a horizontal opening portion, wherein a horizontal grate covers the horizontal opening portion, comprising the steps of:
 providing a vertical grate dimensioned to snugly slide into the vertical opening portion; and   mounting said vertical grate within the vertical opening portion so that the vertical grate surface is oriented transverse relative to the horizontal grate.