Condensation Collection Pan

Abstract

An improved condensate collection pan in which a bottom portion has one or more surfaces sloping downwardly towards a drain orifice, with one or more vertical walls around the periphery of the bottom portion, defining an open-top liquid-tight pan. The drain orifice in the bottom portion is downward facing to receive a fitting for a vertically-oriented drain pipe or elbow, and the drain orifice is positioned farther from the back of the pan than from the front of the pan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A condensate collection pan comprising:
 a bottom portion having a periphery, having one or more surfaces sloping downwardly towards at least one drain orifice;   one or more essentially vertical walls disposed around the periphery of the bottom portion, wherein the disposition is liquid-tight, thereby defining an open-top condensate collection pan;   wherein the drain orifice is downward facing and configured to receive a fitting for a vertically-oriented drain pipe or elbow, or to receive a drain pipe without a fitting, or to receive both a fitting and a drain pipe, and wherein the drain orifice is positioned farther from a back of the pan than from a front of the pan.   
     
     
         2 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bottom portion comprises a first essentially planar portion descending from a rear side to the drain orifice, a second essentially planar portion descending from a left side to the drain orifice, a third essentially planar portion descending from a front side to the drain orifice, and a fourth essentially planar portion descending from a right side to the drain orifice. 
     
     
         3 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the one or more essentially vertical walls are configured in a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the rectangular shape is approximately 30 inches by 25 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the rectangular shape is approximately 22 inches by 18 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the rectangular shape is approximately 22 inches by 15 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the one or more essentially vertical walls is configured in a curved shape. 
     
     
         8 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the downward slope of the bottom portion comprises at least a 0.5 inch vertical drop from a bottom edge of the one or more essentially vertical walls to the drain orifice. 
     
     
         9 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the one or more essentially vertical walls form a slight taper from top to bottom, towards the bottom portion. 
     
     
         10 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  wherein dimensions and materials of the vertical walls bottom portion are configured to retain at least 7 gallons of condensate under conditions of the drain orifice being blocked. 
     
     
         11 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 10  further comprising one or more constraint points for holding the pan in place under an air conditioner or other refrigeration unit, wherein the one or more constraint mounts are configured to hold a weight of at least 7 gallons of condensate. 
     
     
         12 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising molded plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising formed plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising sheet metal. 
     
     
         15 . The condensate collection pan as set forth in  claim 1  comprising one or more fillets in one or more corner junctions between one or more walls or between a wall and the bottom portion.