IP Library Granted Patent US 8,826,939
Granted Patent B2
US 8,826,939 · App. 12/509,214 · Granted Sep 9, 2014

Drain system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,826,939
App. No.
12/509,214
Granted
Sep 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drain system for transporting waste from a vehicle to a discharge location located spaced from the vehicle may include first, second and third modular components. The first modular component may be adapted to coupling to the vehicle and may define a first male connection. The second modular component may include a waste transfer portion extending between a first end and a second end. The first end may define a first female connection and the second end may define a second male connection. The third modular component may include an angled central portion, a first end and a second end. The first end may define a second female connection. The second end may define a waste discharge end. The drain system may further include a fourth modular component defining a first end having an opening for receiving the waste discharge end of the third modular component and a second end for interfacing with a tubular intake of the discharge location.

Claims (37)

1. A drain system for transporting waste from a vehicle to a discharge location located spaced from the vehicle, the drain system comprising:

a first modular component having a vehicle engaging portion for directly coupling to the vehicle, the first modular component defining a first male connection, the vehicle engaging portion circumferentially surrounding the first male connection and rotatable relative to the first male connection;

a second modular component including a waste transfer portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a first female connection and the second end defining a second male connection, the waste transfer portion defining a flexible hose extending entirely from the first end to the second end and permanently connected to the first and second ends; and

a third modular component including an angled central portion, a first end and a second end, the first end defining a second female connection, the second end defining a waste discharge end;

wherein during use of the drain s stem the first female connection of the second modular component is releasably coupled to the first male connection of the first modular component and the second male connection of the second modular component is releasably coupled to the second female connection of the third modular component and further herein during storage of the second modular component the first and second ends of the second modular component are selectively couplable to one another.

2. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth modular component, the fourth modular component defining a first end having an opening for receiving the waste discharge end of the third modular component and a second end for interfacing with a tubular intake of the discharge location.

3. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 2 , wherein the second end of the fourth modular component includes a plurality of integral interface features.

4. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of integral interface features includes at least five interface features.

5. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of integral interface features includes a combination of threaded and unthreaded interface features of various diameters.

6. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing cap for selectively sealing any one of the first and second male connections, any one of the first and second female connections, and any of the waste discharge end.

7. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 6 , wherein the sealing cap includes a female end adapted to seal one of the first and second male connections and an opposite male end adapted to seal one of the first and second female connections or discharge ends.

8. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 6 , further comprising a fourth modular component, the fourth modular component defining a first end having an opening for receiving the waste discharge end of the third modular component and a second end for interfacing with a tubular intake of the discharge location, wherein a male end of the sealing cap selectively caps both of the first and second ends of the fourth modular component, an intermediate portion of the cap selectively snaps in the waste discharge end of the third modular component and a larger diameter portion of the cap selectively is force fit into both the first female connection of the second modular component and the second female connection of the third modular component.

9. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 1 , wherein the waste transfer portion of the second modular component includes a plastic helix.

10. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 1 , wherein the waste transfer portion includes a main body and a plastic helix molded on an outside of the main body.

11. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 10 , wherein the main body of the waste transfer portion is formed of a flexible outer layer and the plastic helix that is flexible and memory retaining.

12. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 10 , wherein the main body of the waste transfer portion is translucent.

13. The drain system of claim 10 , wherein the plastic helix is co-extended to an outer skin of the main body.

14. The drain system of claim 13 , wherein the main body is a SEBS elastomer.

15. The drain system of claim 10 , wherein the plastic helix makes the main body crush resistant.

16. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 1 , wherein the waste portion of the second modular component is flexible and the first female connection is releasable engageable with the second male connection.

17. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 1 , wherein the second male connection of the second modular component is substantially identical to the first male connection of the first modular component to facilitate variable interconnection.

18. The drain system for transporting waste of claim 17 , wherein the second female connection of the third modular component is substantially identical to the first female connection of the second modular component.

19. A drain system for transporting waste from a vehicle to a discharge location located spaced from the vehicle, the drain system comprising:

a first modular component having a vehicle engaging portion for directly coupling to the vehicle, the first modular component defining a first male connection, the vehicle engaging portion circumferentially surrounding the first male connection and rotatable relative to the first male connection;

a second modular component including a waste transfer portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a first female connection and the second end defining a second male connection; and

a third modular component including an angled central portion, a first end and a second end, the first end defining a second female connection, the second end defining a waste discharge end;

wherein the waste transfer portion includes a main body and a plastic helix molded on an outside of the main body, wherein the second male connection of the second modular component is substantially identical to the first ale connection of the first modular component to facilitate variable interconnection, and wherein the second female connection of the third modular component is substantially identical to the first female connection of the second modular component.

20. A drain system for transporting waste from a vehicle to a discharge location located spaced from the vehicle, the drain system comprising:

a first modular component having a vehicle engaging portion for directly coupling to the vehicle, the first modular component defining a first male connection, the vehicle engaging portion circumferentially surrounding the first male connection and rotatable relative to the first male connection;

a second modular component including a waste transfer portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a first female connection and the second end defining a second male connection, wherein the second male connection of the second modular component is substantially identical to the first male connection of the first modular component to facilitate variable interconnection; and

a third modular component including an angled central portion, a first end and a second end, the first end defining a second female connection, the second end defining a waste discharge end, wherein the second female connection of the third modular component is substantially identical to the first female connection of the second modular component.

21. A drain system for transporting waste from a vehicle to a discharge location located spaced from the vehicle, the drain system comprising:

a first modular component having a vehicle engaging portion for directly coupling to the vehicle, the first modular component defining a first male connection, the vehicle engaging portion circumferentially surrounding the first male connection and rotatable relative to the first male connection;

a second modular component including a waste transfer portion extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a first female connection and the second end defining a second male connection, the waste transfer portion defining a flexible hose extending entirely from the first end to the second end and permanently connected to the first and second ends; and

a third modular component including an angled central portion, a first end and a second end, the first end defining a second female connection, the second end defining a waste discharge end;

a fourth modular component, the fourth modular component defining a first end having an opening for receiving the waste discharge end of the third modular component and a second end for interfacing with a tubular intake of the discharge location; and

a sealing cap having a male end, an intermediate portion and a larger diameter portion, the end of the sealing cap for selectively capping both of the first and second ends of the fourth modular component, the intermediate portion of the cap for snapping in the waste discharge end of the third modular component and the larger diameter portion of the cap for force fitting into both the first female connection of the second modular component and the second female connection of the third modular component.

Assignments (8)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 18, 2022
From: THETFORD CORPORATION
To: THETFORD LLC
Reel/Frame 059725/0294 →
GRANT OF A SECURITY INTEREST -- PATENTS Recorded Dec 13, 2021
From: YOSEMITE INTERMEDIATE I, INC.; THETFORD CORPORATION; NORCOLD, INC.; B & B MOLDERS, LLC
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE AGENCY, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058496/0125 →
NOTICE OF PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 13, 2021
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: THETFORD CORPORATION; THETFORD BV; NORCOLD, INC.
Reel/Frame 058496/0214 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2013
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC AS SUCCESSOR TO COREPOINTE CAPITAL LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THETFORD CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031766/0826 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 30, 2013
From: COTO TECHNOLOGY, INC.; NORCOLD, INC.; KEARNEY-NATIONAL INC.; THETFORD CORPORATION; PLAID ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 031515/0176 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Dec 7, 2012
From: COREPOINTE CAPITAL FINANCE LLC
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 029423/0001 →
GRANT OF A SECURITY INTEREST - PATENTS Recorded Jul 14, 2011
From: THETFORD CORPORATION
To: COREPOINTE CAPITAL FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026589/0676 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2009
From: DAMASKE, SUZANNE; HALL, CARRIE; DELANEY, DAN; HALL, KENNETH J.; BIALORUCKI, ANDY; GRECH, GEORGE
To: THETFORD CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023004/0708 →