Free-flow, animal blocking drain pipe end cap and method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a drain pipe end cap comprising a fitting, for connection to the end of a drain pipe, and at least one gate, for allowing water and debris flow but deterring animal incursions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drain pipe end cap comprising:
 a fitting, for connection to an end of a drain pipe, and at least one gate; wherein the fitting comprises a tubular structure, an aperture, a leading end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface, a flange, at least one connector, at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole; wherein   the fitting promotes effluent flow from the end of the drain pipe; wherein the at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end, at the distal end, at a position in between at the leading end and at the distal end, and combinations thereof; wherein   the at least one connector is selected from the group consisting of at least one internal connector, at least one external connector, a slide-on connector, and combinations thereof; wherein   the flange is selected from the group consisting of an external stop flange, an internal stop flange, and combinations thereof;   the at least one gate comprises contiguous construction having a front face, a rear face, a first protruding gate pivot tab and a second protruding gate pivot tab, the first protruding gate pivot tab and the second protruding gate pivot tab located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line; wherein   the first protruding gate pivot tab is in the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second protruding gate pivot tab is in the second gate pivot tab bearing hole; wherein   the at least one gate pivots in a single rotational direction about a gate pivot tab line, having a range of open positions, and having a closed position that substantially occludes the aperture; wherein the at least one gate makes functional contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the fitting in the closed position; and wherein   the at least one gate promotes towards the closed position due to gravity.   
     
     
         2 . The drain pipe end cap of  claim 1 , wherein
 the leading end has a slanted configuration.   
     
     
         3 . A drain pipe end cap comprising:
 a fitting, for connection to an end of a drain pipe, and at least one gate; wherein the fitting comprises a tubular structure, an aperture, a leading end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface, a flange, at least one connector, at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole; wherein   the fitting promotes effluent flow from the end of the drain pipe; wherein   the at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end, at the distal end, at a position in between at the leading end and at the distal end, and combinations thereof; wherein   the at least one connector is selected from the group consisting of at least one internal connector, at least one external connector, a slide-on connector, and combinations thereof; wherein   the flange is selected from the group consisting of an external stop flange, an internal stop flange, and combinations thereof;   the at least one gate comprises a contiguous construction having a front face, a rear face, a first protruding gate pivot tab, and a second protruding gate pivot tab, the first protruding gate pivot tab and the second protruding gate pivot tab located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line; wherein   the at least one gate is inserted into the fitting using an application of opposing forces to the outer surface of the fitting, thereby distorting the tubular structure, the first protruding gate pivot tab is inserted into the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second protruding gate pivot tab is aligned with the second gate pivot tab bearing hole, removing the opposing forces thereby capturing the second protruding gate pivot tab in the second gate pivot tab bearing hole and returning the fitting to substantially the fitting's original shape; wherein   connection to the drain pipe constrains fitting distortion; wherein   the at least one gate pivots in a single rotational direction about a gate pivot tab line, having a range of open positions, and having a closed position that substantially occludes the aperture; wherein the at least one gate makes functional contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the fitting in the closed position; and wherein   the at least one gate promotes towards the closed position due to gravity.   
     
     
         4 . The drain pipe end cap of  claim 3 , wherein
 the leading end has a slanted configuration.   
     
     
         5 . A method for assembling a drain pipe end cap, comprising:
 a fitting, for connection to an end of a drain pipe, and at least one gate; wherein the fitting comprises a tubular structure, an aperture, a leading end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface, at least one pair of a first gate pivot tab bearing hole and a second gate pivot tab bearing hole; wherein   the at least one pair of the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second gate pivot tab bearing hole are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, substantially at or above a horizontal meridian of the fitting, located at a position selected from at the leading end, at the distal end, at a position in between at the leading end and at the distal end, and combinations thereof; wherein   the at least one gate comprises a contiguous construction having a front face, a rear face, a first protruding gate pivot tab, and a second protruding gate pivot tab, the first protruding gate pivot tab and the second protruding gate pivot tab located substantially at or above a gate horizontal center line; wherein   the at least one gate is inserted into the tubular structure using an application of opposing forces to the outer surface of the fitting, thereby distorting the tubular structure, the first protruding gate pivot tab is inserted into the first gate pivot tab bearing hole and the second protruding gate pivot tab is aligned with the second gate pivot tab bearing hole, removing the opposing forces thereby capturing the second protruding gate pivot tab in the at least one second gate pivot tab bearing hole and returning the fitting to substantially the fitting's original shape; and connecting the fitting to the drain pipe, wherein the drain pipe constrains the fitting distortion.