BATTERY OPERATED SMALL CRAFT BILGE PUMP

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims benefit to provisional patent application serial no. 61 /568.41 0 (91 1 -01 7.024-1 //M- RLE- 1 103), filed 8 December 201 1 , which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a pump; and more particularly to a battery operated bilge pump.

2. Description of Related Art

A current prior art design consists of a standard 12 volt bilge pump, a separate battery case, water proof wire connections and an on/off switch.

The current design or version is heavy (about five pounds with battery), requires a lead acid battery, requires at least 3 holes drilled in the side of a kayak for wiring and a thruhull and installation takes about 2-4 hours on average with a $360.00 retail price. Typically, the battery life is about 45 minutes on a single charge.

In view of this, there is a longstanding need in the recreational boat industry and marketplace for a better bilge pump design that is easier to install, easier to remove, e.g., to replace the batteries, operates for a long period of time before the batteries need to be changed, and is less expensive in overall cost. WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, according to the present invention a small craft pump may be configured that uses a housing with an integrated strainer base to contain a 6 volt inline pump plus 5 or 6 AA batteries in one compartment with a switch assembly on a 3-4 foot wire cable to operate the pump. A Velcro ^® or Velcro-like material may be used to fasten the apparatus to an inside compartment wall of a kayak or other small rowing craft, unlike the current known models on the market which require screws or permanent glue. The Velcro ^® will allow the user to easily remove the pump for cleaning and battery replacement as well as making the apparatus very easy to install. The small craft pump according to the present invention may be configured to weigh under a pound with batteries, does not require any drilling of the vessel, can be installed in approximately 1 5 seconds and has a retail price under $70.00.

Typical battery life is approximately 1 .5 hours.

By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, an apparatus or arrangement, which includes such a small lightweight battery operated remotely switched bilge pump weighing less than about one pound for installing in such a small watercraft or vessel, including such a kayak, canoe, sailboat, row boat, dingy. The apparatus or arrangement may include a bilge pump arrangement in combination with a detachable coupling arrangement, such as Velcro, as follows:

The bilge pump arrangement may be configured with a pump, e.g., such a low voltage inline pump, and a housing having two compartments, including a

compartment having an integrated strainer base and configured to receive the low voltage inline pump, and including a watertight compartment configured to receive lightweight batteries to power the low voltage inline pump. WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO

The apparatus or arrangement may also include a switch assembly that may be configured to selectively operate the on/off functionality of the low voltage inline pump. For example, the switch assembly may be configured on, e.g., a 3-4 foot wire physically connected to the bilge pump arrangement to operate the on/off functionality of the pump remotely. Alternatively, embodiments are envisioned in which the switch assembly may be configured to be arranged in the watertight compartment of the housing and the on/off functionality controlled via wireless remote control, e.g., via a remote wireless transmitter.

The detachable coupling arrangement, including Velcro ^® , may be configured to detachably couple the bilge pump arrangement to a surface of the kayak or other small watercraft so as to allow installation of the bilge pump arrangement to perform bilge pump functionality without the need for drilling or making any hole in any surface of the kayak or other small watercraft, and also to allow removal of the bilge pump arrangement for cleaning and battery replacement.

The apparatus or arrangement may include one or more of the following features:

The detachable coupling arrangement may include one Velcro ^® piece having hooks, and another Velcro ^® piece having loops for detachably coupling to the hooks.

The surface of the kayak or other small watercraft may include inner part or portion of a hull or other surface at a location at or near where water leaking into the small watercraft or vessel is likely to collect and need to be bilged from the vessel.

Furthermore, by way of example, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, a kit for installing such a bilge pump arrangement having such a small lightweight battery operated remote switched bilge pump in such a small watercraft or vessel, including a kayak, canoe, WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO sailboat, row boat, dingy, including such a bilge pump arrangement in combination with such a Velcro ^® arrangement.

In addition to the features set forth above, the kit may include one or more of the following features:

The kit may further include lightweight batteries, including 5-6 A, AA, AAA batteries configured to provide, e.g., about 6 volts, in order to power the pump.

The kit may further include an instruction sheet with instructions for coupling the pump to the boat hull with the Velcro, replacing the batteries, remotely switching the pump on/off, etc.

The battery operated small craft bilge pump according to the present invention satisfies the aforementioned longstanding need in the recreational boat and small craft industry and marketplace and provides a new, unique and better bilge pump design that is easier to install, easier to remove, e.g., to replace the batteries, operates for a long period of time before the batteries need to be changed, and is less expensive in overall cost, all in relation to the bilge pumps that are known in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing includes Figures 1 - 4, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, as follows:

Figure 1 includes Figures 1 a and 1 b, which are diagrams of a bilge pump arrangement, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a detachable coupling arrangement, such as Velcro ^® , for coupling part of a boat hull to part of the bilge pump arrangement shown in Figure 1 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a switching assembly configured to selectively operate on/off functionality of a pump remotely, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a wireless switching assembly configured to be arranged in a housing of the bilge pump arrangement and selectively operate on/off functionality of the pump, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 : The Basic Apparatus or Arrangement 10 By way of example, Figure 1 show an apparatus or arrangement generally indicated as 10 in the form of a bilge pump arrangement generally indicated as 1 1 , which includes a small lightweight battery operated remotely switched bilge pump.

In Figures 1 a, 1 b, the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 may be configured with, or include a pump 12, e.g., such as a low voltage inline pump, and a housing 14, as shown. The housing 14 has two compartments 14a', 14a", including a compartment 14a' having an integrated strainer base 14b and configured to receive the low voltage inline pump 1 2, and also including a watertight compartment 14a" configured to receive lightweight batteries (not shown) to power the low voltage inline pump 12. The integrated strainer base 14b is configured with passageways to allow water to pass into the compartment 14a' to be pumped. The integrated strainer base 14b may also be configured, e.g., with a screen, to prevent certain sized particulate in the water from passing into the compartment 14a'.

The bilge pump arrangement 1 1 also includes a removable battery cover 14 that may be removed from the housing 14, including by unscrewing one or more screws (not shown), in order to replace the batteries 22. The removable battery WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO cover 14 may also include a sealing gasket (not shown) for providing a watertight seal between the removable battery cover 14 and the rim of the battery compartment 14" to which it is coupled. Sealing gaskets are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof, either now known or later developed in the future. The bilge pump arrangement 1 1 also includes suitable hosing and hosing couplings to pump the water from the pump, e.g., out of the small craft or vessel.

The apparatus or arrangement 1 0 also includes a detachable coupling arrangement generally indicated as 20 shown in Figure 2 that may be configured to detachably couple part 1 1 a of the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 to a surface or part 30 of the small watercraft or vessel so as to allow installation of the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 to perform bilge pump functionality without the drilling or making of any hole in any part or surface of the small watercraft or vessel, and also to allow removal of the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 for cleaning and battery replacement.

By way of example, the detachable coupling arrangement 20, such as

Velcro ^® , may include a one Velcro ^® piece 20a having hooks, and another Velcro ^® piece 20b having loops for detachably coupling to the hooks. The dashed lines indicated by reference label 20c represent the hook and loop coupling interface between the two Velcro ^® pieces 20a and 20b. The Velcro ^® piece 20a has an adhesive backing and is attached to the part 1 1 a of the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 with an adhesive 20d when an adhesive covering (not shown) is removed from the Velcro ^® piece 20a, consistent with that known in the art. Similarly, the Velcro ^® piece 20b also has an adhesive backing and is attached to the part 30 of the small watercraft or vessel with an adhesive 20e when an adhesive covering (not shown) is removed from the Velcro ^® piece 20b, consistent with that known in the art. As a WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO person skilled in the art would appreciate, the adhesive coupling between the Velcro ^® piece 20a and the part 1 1 a of the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 , as well as the adhesive coupling between the Velcro ^® piece 20b and the part 30 of the small watercraft or vessel with an adhesive 20e, is intended to be substantially stronger than the hook and loop coupling interface, so that the Velcro ^® pieces 20a and 20b remain attached to the part 1 1 a and the part 30 when the hook and loop coupling interface between the two Velcro ^® pieces 20a and 20b is broken and the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 is removed, e.g., to clean or replace the batteries. The adhesive coupling between the Velcro ^® piece 20a and the part 1 1 a of the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 , as well as the adhesive coupling between the Velcro ^® piece 20b and the part 30 of the small watercraft or vessel with an adhesive 20e, is also intended to be substantially water resistant, including resistant to both fresh water and sea water. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind of Velcro ^® either now known or later developed in the future, including Velcro ^® used for residential household use, as well as industrial strength Velcro®. Moreover, the scope of the invention is intended to include other types or kinds of detachable coupling arrangements either now known or later developed in the future. Figure 3: The Switching Assembly 1 8

The apparatus or arrangement 10 may include a switch assembly 1 8 that may be configured to selectively operate the on/off functionality of the pump 1 2. For example, the switch assembly 1 8 may be configured or tethered on, e.g., about a 3-4 foot wire 18a, and coupled in a watertight manner, e.g., through the housing 1 1 , to the pump 12 in bilge pump arrangement 1 1 in order to operate the on/off functionality WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO of the pump 1 2 remotely by the boater. The switch assembly 1 8 may also be configured as a watertight device, e.g., including an on/off button 18b that may take the form of a toggle switch that may be pressed, or a capacitive touch control that may be touch, etc.

Figure 4: Alternative Embodiment

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment, wherein the apparatus or arrangement 1 0 may include a wireless switching assembly 1 8' that may be configured to be arranged in the watertight compartment 14a' of the housing 14 to selectively operate the on/off functionality of the low voltage inline pump 12 via a wireless remote arrangement, including a wireless transmitter (not shown). In Figure 4, the wireless switching assembly 1 8' may be configured with a wireless receiver module 1 8c' and a control module 1 8d' that receive power from the batteries 22' via wiring 1 8a'. The wireless receiver module 1 8c' may be configured with an antenna part or portion like element A for receiving a wireless control signal, e.g., from the wireless transmitter (not shown) and for providing a control signal to the control module 1 8d'. The control module 18d may be configured to receive the control signal via line 18e and provide control signalling via line 1 8b' to turn the pump 1 2 (Figure 1 ) on/off. Wireless receiver modules like element 1 8c' and control modules like element 1 8d' are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future. The scope of the invention is also not intended to be limited to embodiments based on wireless remote communication. WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO

The Compartments 14

By way of example, the housing 14, the compartment 14a' and the watertight compartment 14a" may be configured and dimensioned with a particular size, shape and contour. The compartment 14a' may be configured with a respective size, shape and contour so as to receive and contain the pump 12, which itself has a corresponding size, shape or contour. As shown, the compartment 14a' and the pump 12 have substantially corresponding cylindrical shapes and contours.

Similarly, the watertight compartment 14a" may be configured with a respective size, shape and contour so as to receive and contain the batteries (not shown), or alternatively, the batteries 22' and the switch assembly 18' (see Figure 4).

The compartment 14a' and the watertight compartment 14a" may be coupled by a watertight passageway (not shown) so as to allow wiring from the batteries in the watertight compartment 14a" to pass through and connect to the pump 12. As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, a watertight grommet may be used to provide such a watertight passageway for the wiring.

In the alternative embodiment shown in relation to Figure 4 the batteries 22' may be arrangement in a battery cartridge that is coupled to the switch assembly 1 8' via wiring 18a'. The compartment 14a' and the watertight compartment 14a" may be coupled by a watertight passageway (not shown) so as to allow the wiring 18b' from the switch assembly 1 8' to pass through and connect to the pump 1 2. As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, a watertight grommet may be used to provide such a watertight passageway for the wiring 18b. WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO The Kit

By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, a kit for installing the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 to some part or surface of a small craft or vessel using the detachable coupling arrangement 20, such as Velcro, consistent with that disclosed herein.

By way of example, the kit may include the following:

the bilge pump arrangement 1 1 ;

the detachable coupling arrangement 20, such as Velcro®;

a switch assembly, including a tethered switch assembly or a wireless switching assembly and a wireless transmitter;

batteries 22; and

an instruction sheet with instructions for coupling the pump to the boat hull with the Velcro, replacing the batteries, remotely switching the pump on/off, etc.

Such a kit would allow a consumer, e.g. including a non-sophisticated boat owner, to purchase everything that is needed in one kit or package and be able to very easily, inexpensively and safely install such a small lightweight battery operated remotely switched bilge pump weighing less than about one pound in such a small watercraft or vessel, including such a kayak, canoe, sailboat, row boat, dingy.

Applications

The present invention may also be used in, or form part of, or used in conjunction with, the following pumps:

Kayak bilge pump,

Canoe bilge pump, WFVA/Xylem Docket Nos.. 91 1 -017.024-3/MRLE1 1 03WO

Small craft (sailboat, row boat, dingy etc.) bilge pump,

Water cooler pump,

Static bait well water removal, and

Window well water removal.

The Scope of the Invention

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, may modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.