Sump Housing and Fluid Abatement System

Abstract

An improved sump pump housing and related system for removing collected water from a variety of locations including basements, crawl spaces, and subflooring of residential and commercial structures. The inventive sump housing comprises a body formed by a floor, a continuous circular sidewall extending upward from the floor, a top opening spaced vertically apart from and substantially parallel with the floor, a sump pump receiving well, and a cooperating lid. The body is shaped like an outwardly tapered cylinder extending upward from the floor (bottom) to a circular rim forming the periphery of the top opening. A plurality of slots formed through the sidewall enable fluid to pass through the sidewall into the well. The slots are radially spaced apart and substantially parallel around the sidewall. In use, the housing is placed within a pit formed in the earth and the space between the body and the earth is backfilled rocks. Subsurface water enters the housing through the slots and is expelled by a sump pump within the well through a connected pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A housing for a sump pump, comprising a body formed by a floor and a continuous sidewall joined to and extending upward from the floor and defining a sump pump receiving well bounded by the sidewall, wherein:
 the body has a circular cross-section having a diameter near the floor being smaller than the diameter at the uppermost end opposite the floor to form an inwardly tapered cylinder extending in a direction downward toward the floor;   the sidewall further comprises an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a rim forming the periphery of the well opening;   the rim further comprises a substantially horizontal ledge with an annulus extending upwardly from and substantially perpendicular to the ledge;   a plurality of elongated slots are formed through the sidewall enabling fluid to pass through the sidewall into the well; and   wherein the slots are radially spaced apart and substantially parallel around the sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The sump housing of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable lid configured to rest on the ledge and bounded by the vertical annulus to form an upper deck substantially covering the well.   
     
     
         3 . The sump housing of  claim 2 , wherein the lid is secured to the body with at least one fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The sump housing of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one port formed through the sidewall and configured to receive a section of pipe for fluid communication with the well and exterior of the sidewall.   
     
     
         5 . The sump housing of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body is made from a molded plastic material.   
     
     
         6 . The sump housing of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the tapered cylinder shape of the body allows a second housing to nest within the well of a first housing.   
     
     
         7 . The sump housing of  claim 1 , further comprising a system for removing water including:
 a sump pump operably positioned within the well and supported by the floor.   
     
     
         8 . A system for removing unwanted water accumulation comprising a housing for a sump pump and further comprising;
 a housing floor;   a continuous sidewall extending upward from the floor;   a sump pump receiving well having a top opening spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the floor;   a plurality of non-circular elongated slots formed through the sidewall to enable fluid to pass through it and into the well;   a sump pump operably positioned within the housing and supported by the floor; and   piping means operably connected to the pump for expelling water from the well and out of the housing when the pump is actuated.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the housing has a circular cross-section with the diameter of the sidewall near the floor being smaller than the diameter of the housing near the opening of the well to form an outwardly tapered cylinder extending upward from the floor.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sidewall further comprises an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a circular rim forming the periphery of the top opening, wherein:
 the rim further comprises a substantially horizontal ledge and an annulus extending upwardly and substantially perpendicular to the ledge.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the piping means further includes:
 a substantially horizontal water pipe passing through an aperture in the housing sidewall for carrying water into a well of the housing for removal by the pump.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a removeable lid configured to rest on the ledge and bounded by the annulus to form an upper deck.   
     
     
         13 . The sump housing of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the combination of the tapered cylindrical sidewall and elongated slots is configured to minimize debris entry while maximizing fluid flow into the well in the X, Y, and Z directions while adding rigidity and resistance to deformation in response to downward forces applied to the uppermost regions of the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The sump housing of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one port formed through the sidewall and configured to receive a section of pipe for fluid communication with the well and exterior of the sidewall.   
     
     
         15 . The sump housing of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the body is made from a molded plastic material.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the body is shaped to allow a second housing to nest within the well of a first housing during shipment.   
     
     
         17 . An improved sump pump housing comprising a body formed by a floor, a continuous sidewall extending outwardly and upwardly from the floor, and a sump pump receiving well bounded by the sidewall and floor, wherein:
 the sidewall further comprises an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a circular rim forming the periphery of the opening of the well;
 the rim further comprises a substantially horizontal ledge and an annulus extending upwardly therefrom; 
   the body has a circular cross-section of varying diameter to form an outwardly tapered cylinder extending upward from the floor;   a plurality of elongated slots formed through the sidewall enabling fluid to pass through the sidewall into the well; and   a removable lid configured to rest on the ledge inside of the annulus to form an upper deck.   
     
     
         18 . The sump housing of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the slots are radially spaced apart and substantially parallel around the sidewall.   
     
     
         19 . The sump housing of  claim 17 , wherein the body is made from a molded plastic material and the varying diameter enables a second housing to nest within the well of a first housing. 
     
     
         20 . The sump pump housing of  claim 17  further comprises at least one fastener for attaching the lid to the body.