Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to water draining apparatus which can drain pooled water almost to floor surface level.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Draining of pooled water from flooded properties may comprise pumping out of the pooled water. However, it is difficult to remove a remaining residual amount thereof which may require additional sponging, mopping or the like.

[0003] The present invention seeks to provide a way, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[0004] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0005] There is provided herein water draining apparatus comprising a weighted body having a base having feet for resting upon a floor surface. The body has a vertical drain channel going orthogonally through the base.

[0006] The vertical drain channel has a mouth terminating just above a floor plane defined by coplanar lowermost surfaces of the feet.

[0007] As such, in use, the apparatus can be stood upon the base with the base submerged in pooled water with a hose connected thereto so that water can flow between the feet towards the mouth of the vertical drain channel which can be sucked through the vertical drain channel to drain water from the pool.

[0008] In embodiments, a distal end of the hose may be slidably adjusted within a vertical drain channel through the apparatus to adjust the offset thereof from the floor surface to control the effective suction depth of the apparatus. [0009] As such, pooled water can be drained almost to the level of the floor surface. In embodiments, the present apparatus can drain water down to as little as approximately 2 mm from the floor surface.

[0010] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0012] Figure 1 shows a side perspective view of water draining apparatus in accordance with an embodiment;

[0013] Figure 2 shows an underside plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 ; and [0014] Figure 3 shows a hand pump which may be used with the apparatus.

Description of Embodiments

[0015] Water draining apparatus 100 comprises a weighted body 101 having a base 102 having feet 103 for resting upon a floor surface. The apparatus 100 further comprises a vertical drain channel 104 going orthogonally through the base 102. [0016] The vertical drain channel 104 has a mouth 107 terminating just above a floor plane defined by coplanar lowermost surfaces 105 of the feet 103.

[0017] As such, in use, the apparatus 100 can be stood upon the base 102 with the base 102 submerged in a level of pooled water with a hose 106 connected thereto. As such, water can flow between the feet 105 towards the mouth of the vertical drain channel 104 which can be sucked to the vertical drain channel 104 to drain water from the pool almost to the level of the floor surface.

[0018] The mouth 107 of the vertical drain channel 104 preferably terminates within 5 mm of the floor plane such as approximately 2 mm from the floor plan. As such, the current apparatus 100 can potentially drain a pool of water down to a level of approximately 2 mm or less. [0019] The vertical drain channel 104 may be defined by a drain conduit 108 going through the body 101 and which may extend therefrom in the manner shown in Figure 1.

[0020] The drain channel 104 may be sized so that the hose 106 can be inserted therethrough. At least a portion of the vertical drain channel 104 may have a diameter causing the vertical drain channel 104 to frictionally engage the hose 104.

[0021 ] For example, the hose 104 may be a conventional garden hose having an exterior diameter of 12 mm whereas the entirety of the vertical drain channel 104 or at least a portion thereof may have an interior diameter of 12 mm or less, such as 1 1 mm. As such, the vertical drain channel 104 may frictionally engage the hose 106 to prevent the hose 106 inadvertently pulling therefrom.

[0022] In embodiments, the vertical drain channel 104 controls the insertion depth of the hose 104. In accordance with this embodiment, the vertical drain channel 104 may comprise a terminal inner rim 109 (or similar type of engagement) at the mouth 107 which engages a distal end of the hose 106 to prevent the hose 106 from travelling further. The terminal inner rim 109 may accurately position the distal end of the hose 106.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the hose 106 can be inserted through the vertical drain channel 104 to adjust an offset of a distal end thereof from the floor plane. [0024] The body 101 may be hollow and made of plastic. The body 101 may be filled with ballast, such as least one of water, sand and cement. The body 101 may comprise an opening for filling the body 101 with the ballast. Where the body 101 widens towards the base is shown in Figure 1 , the majority of the ballast may collect within the lowermost portion of the body 101 , thereby stably weighting down the apparatus 100 against tipping over.

[0025] In embodiments, the apparatus 100 may comprise a garden hose snap fit connector 1 10 for connection of the hose 106 thereto.

[0026] In embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the base 102 may narrow towards a neck 11 1. The base 102 and the neck 11 1 may be coaxial for stability. [0027] Utilisation of the apparatus 100 to drain pooled water may comprise filling the body 101 with ballast and connecting the hose 106 thereto, such as by inserting the hose 106 right down through the vertical drain channel 104 to the terminal inner rim 109 thereof or connecting the hose 106 to the snap fit connector 110.

[0028] The base 101 may then be stood upright in the pool of water so that the water can flow between the feet 103 towards the mouth 107 of the vertical drain channel 104.

[0029] A proximal end of the hose 106 be connected to an inlet 112 of a pump 113. In the embodiment shown, the pump 113 is a hand pump comprising a reciprocating plunger 114 which is used to prime the hose 106 whereafter the proximal end thereof may be located lower than the mouth 107 to siphon water through the hose 106. [0030] In embodiments, the apparatus 100 may comprise more than one snap fit connector 110. For example, the apparatus 100 may comprise two snap fit connectors, one suited for a 12 mm garden hose and the other for a 30 mm diameter garden hose. As such, either hose may be attached to the apparatus 100.

[0031] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.