AU2008303061A1 - Rainwater tank - Google Patents

Description

WO 2009/039571 PCT/AU2008/001421 1 RAINWATER TANK FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a moulded plastic rainwater tank. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 With the introduction of new government regulations and the rise of climate change, there has been an increased interest in the installation of rainwater tanks, particularly domestic rainwater tanks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a moulded plastic rainwater tank 10 comprising: a vessel including a perimeter wall connected to a bottom wall; and one or more hold down feet being integral with the bottom wall and adapted to anchor the tank to a supporting surface. Preferably the hold down feet each include a bracket. More preferably the bracket includes 15 an aperture or slot being adapt to receive a fastener for anchoring to the supporting surface. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a moulded plastic rainwater tank comprising: a vessel including a perimeter wall having an internal rib or other projection formed integral with the perimeter wall on at least one of its opposing inside surfaces; and 20 at least one baffle arranged to detachably engage the internal rib or other projection thereby connecting the opposing or adjacent inside surfaces to support the wall from outward deflection. Preferably the baffle is one of a plurality of baffles configured to balance the outward water pressure on the opposing inside surfaces. 25 Preferably the internal rib includes a flange extending vertically along its free edge. Preferably the baffle is generally elongate and includes two opposing edges each being arranged to slidably engage one of the internal ribs. More preferably the baffle at each of 205082145_1 WO 2009/039571 PCT/AU2008/001421 2 its opposing edges includes a pair of laterally spaced apart mounting members between which the internal rib locates. Still more preferably one of the pair of laterally spaced mounting members is configured to engage the flange of the internal rib to prevent separation of the baffle from the rib. 5 Preferably the baffle is one of a plurality of vertically stacked baffles. More preferably the baffle comprises one or more clip elements for interconnection of adjacently stacked baffles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, a preferred 10 embodiment of a moulded plastic rainwater tank will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a moulded plastic rainwater tank; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the moulded plastic rainwater tank of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view into the moulded plastic rainwater tank of figures 1 and 2 15 with the lid removed to reveal internal baffles; Figure 4 is a close up perspective view of one embodiment of hold down feet of the rainwater tank shown in figures 1 to 3; Figures 5 and 6 are different perspective views into the moulded plastic rainwater tank with the lid and baffles removed to better display the internal ribs; 20 Figure 7 is a perspective view into the moulded plastic rainwater tank with the baffles in place; Figure 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a top baffle; Figure 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bottom baffle; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the top baffle of figure 8 above the bottom baffle of 25 figure 9; and Figures 11 and 12 show details of a baffle. 2050821451 WO 2009/039571 PCT/AU2008/001421 3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a moulded plastic rainwater tank according to the present invention and is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The tank 10 includes a vessel 12 including a perimeter wall 14 connected to a bottom wall 16, the latter of which 5 is best seen in figure 2. The tank 10 also includes hold down feet such as 18 that are integral with the bottom wall 16 and are adapted to anchor the tank 10 to a supporting surface. Figure 4 shows a detail of the hold down foot 18. In this embodiment of a moulded plastic rainwater tank 10 the hold down feet 18 are in the form of brackets 18 which include a slot 20 through which a fastener can pass to anchor the tank 10 to the 10 supporting surface. In some embodiments the slot 20 may be replaced by an aperture. The hold down feet 18 are important in anchoring the rainwater tank 10 with its associated plumbing such as pipe work to a concrete slab or other supporting surface. This secure anchoring prevents movement of the tank 10 which would otherwise crack or break the associated plumbing. It is not unusual, particularly in areas of low rainfall, for the 15 rainwater tank 10 to be empty, in which case its secure anchorage is important when it cannot rely on water ballast for stability. As best seen in figure 3, the vessel 12 includes a perimeter wall 14 having opposing inside surfaces 22, 24. The inside surfaces 22, 24 are connected by detachable baffles such as 26 and 28 to support the perimeter wall 14 from outward deflection resulting from water 20 pressure on the opposing side surfaces 22, 24. The perimeter wall 14 includes internal ribs such as 30 formed on the opposing inside surfaces such as 24. The internal ribs such as 30 engage the baffles such as 26 and 28. As shown in figures 5 and 6, the internal ribs such as 32 include a flange such as 34 extending vertically along a free edge of the internal rib 32. 25 Figure 10 shows the top baffle 28 above the bottom baffle 26. Each baffle 26, 28 is generally elongated and includes 2 opposing edges 36, 38 each being arranged to suitably engage one of the internal ribs 30, 32. The baffles 26 and 28 comprise one or more clip elements such as 40 for interconnection of the vertically stacked baffles. Figures 8 and 9 show the baffles 26 and 28 in isolation. 2050821451 WO 2009/039571 PCT/AU2008/001421 4 In the preferred embodiment shown in figures 11 and 12, the opposing edges 36, 38 of each baffle includes a pair of laterally spaced apart mounting members 37 and 39 between which the internal rib such as 30, 32 of the tank 10 locates. The mounting member 39 is configured to engage the flange such as 34 of the internal rib such as 30, 32 to prevent 5 separation of the baffle 26, 28 from the rib 30, 32. The flange such as 34 is located within the space 41. In the preferred embodiment, the injection moulded plastic rainwater tank 10 has a perimeter wall 14 of variable thickness, the thickness depending on the local wall stress of the vessel 14 and also the local wall deflection. The areas of perimeter wall of greater 10 thickness support areas of greater stress and/or deflection. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. For example, the rainwater tank may not have rectangular cross-sections. The baffles may cross-connect 15 adjacent rather than opposing walls, or may run lengthwise. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 205082145-1

Claims (11)

1. A moulded plastic rainwater tank comprising: a vessel including a perimeter wall connected to a bottom wall; and one or more hold down feet being integral with the bottom wall and adapted 5 to anchor the tank to a supporting surface.

2. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in claim 1 wherein the hold down feet each include a bracket.

3. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in claim 2 wherein the bracket includes an aperture or slot being adapt to receive a fastener for anchoring to the supporting 10 surface.

4. A moulded plastic rainwater tank comprising: a vessel including a perimeter wall having an internal rib or other projection formed integral with the perimeter wall on at least one of its opposing inside surfaces; and 15 at least one baffle arranged to detachably engage the internal rib or other projection thereby connecting the opposing or adjacent inside surfaces to support the wall from outward deflection.

5. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in claim 4 wherein the baffle is one of a plurality of baffles configured to balance the outward water pressure on the 20 opposing inside surfaces.

6. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in either of claims 4 or 5 wherein the internal rib includes a flange extending vertically along its free edge.

7. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in claim 6 wherein the baffle is generally elongate and includes two opposing edges each being arranged to slidably 25 engage one of the internal ribs.

8. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in claim 7 wherein the baffle at each of its opposing edges includes a pair of laterally spaced apart mounting members between which the internal rib locates. WO 2009/039571 PCT/AU2008/001421 6

9. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in claim 8 wherein one of the pair of laterally spaced mounting members is configured to engage the flange of the internal rib to prevent separation of the baffle from the rib.

10. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein the 5 baffle is one of a plurality of vertically stacked baffles.

11. A moulded plastic rainwater tank as defined in claim 10 wherein the baffle comprises one or more clip elements for interconnection of adjacently stacked baffles. 205082145_1