Box-shaped device for holding water, such as a rainwater box, and method for using the same

Abstract

A box-shaped device for holding water, such as a rainwater box, comprising at least four partially open side walls and a panel extending between the side walls and having a rectangular shape, the width of which is half the length. The panel is provided with an inspection passage which is positioned centrally in one of the two square panel halves of the panel defined by the rectangular shape, so that whenever the rainwater boxes are stacked, a vertical passage is always provided for passing through, for example, an inspection camera.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A box-shaped device for holding water, the box-shaped device comprising:
 at least four partially open side walls; and   a panel extending between the side walls, the panel having an inside surface and an outside surface, the panel having a rectangular shape with a width and a length, the width the panel being half of the length of the panel, and the panel having a first square panel half and a second square panel half, the first and second square panel halves determined by the rectangular shape of the panel,   wherein the side walls and the panel enclose an interior space in which water can be held, and wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of columns on the inside surface of the panel, the columns extending substantially parallel to the side walls, and wherein the first square panel half of the panel comprises a first free passage disposed in the center of the first square panel half, the first free passage ending in the interior space enclosed by the side walls and the panel.   
   
   
       26 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the second square panel half of the panel comprises a second free passage disposed in the center of the second square panel half. 
   
   
       27 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the first free passage and the second free passage are disposed outside of an area of the panel defined by the plurality of columns. 
   
   
       28 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of columns are arranged in a rectangular pattern around the first free passage and the second free passage. 
   
   
       29 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of studs disposed on the outside surface of the panel. 
   
   
       30 . The box-shaped device of  claim 29 , wherein each of the plurality of studs is aligned with one of the plurality of columns. 
   
   
       31 . The box-shaped device of  claim 30 , wherein each of the plurality of columns in alignment with each of the plurality of studs comprises a hollow cavity formed at an end of each of the plurality of columns, each hollow cavity configured to matingly engage a corresponding stud of a second box-shaped device. 
   
   
       32 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the first free passage is in open communication with the interior space and/or forms part of the interior space. 
   
   
       33 . The box-shaped device of  claim 32 , wherein the first free passage is disposed outside a periphery of each of the plurality of columns. 
   
   
       34 . The box-shaped device of  claim 33 , wherein plurality of columns comprises a plurality of pairs of columns and the first free passage is surrounded by at least one pair of columns of the plurality of pairs of columns, and wherein a distance between each column in the at least one pair of columns of the plurality of pairs of columns that surrounds the first free passage is relatively large and the distance between each column in the pairs of columns that do not surround the first free passage is relatively small. 
   
   
       35 . The box-shaped device of  claim 26 , wherein the first square panel half and the second square panel half each further comprise a plurality of identical square units, the plurality of identical square units adjoining one another and comprising plurality of square corner units disposed about a centrally disposed square unit, and wherein the first free passage is disposed in the centrally disposed square unit of the first square panel half and the second free passage is disposed in the centrally disposed square unit of the second square panel half. 
   
   
       36 . The box-shaped device of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of square corner units are each disposed at the corners of each of the centrally disposed square units, and wherein at least four of the plurality of columns are disposed at the corners of each of the square corner units. 
   
   
       37 . The box-shaped device of  claim 36 , wherein one of the plurality of columns is disposed in the center of each of the square corner units and between the at least four of the plurality of columns disposed at the corners of each of the square corner units. 
   
   
       38 . The box-shaped device of  claim 35 , wherein each of the plurality of identical square units is surrounded by an edge strip. 
   
   
       39 . The box-shaped device of  claim 35 , wherein the inside surface of the panel further comprises a plurality of ribs. 
   
   
       40 . The box-shaped device of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of ribs extend between and intersect with or touch the plurality of columns. 
   
   
       41 . The box-shaped device of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs extends in a longitudinal direction of the panel. 
   
   
       42 . The box-shaped device of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs extends in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the panel. 
   
   
       43 . The box-shaped device of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs extends at a right angle relative to a longitudinal direction of the panel. 
   
   
       44 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the at least four partially open side walls each comprise an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a plurality of raised ribs. 
   
   
       45 . The box-shaped device of  claim 44 , wherein the inside surface of the panel further comprises a plurality of ribs, at least one of the plurality of ribs extending in a longitudinal direction of the panel and at least one of the plurality of ribs extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the panel, and wherein the plurality of raised ribs are aligned with the at least one of the plurality of ribs extending in the longitudinal direction of the panel and/or with the at least one of the plurality of ribs extending in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the panel. 
   
   
       46 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the first square panel half and the second square panel half are defined by a dividing line, the dividing line being a nominal line of weakening. 
   
   
       47 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein two opposite side walls of the at least four partially open side walls further comprise passages. 
   
   
       48 . The box-shaped device of  claim 47 , wherein the two opposite side walls having passages are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the panel, and wherein the passages are disposed centrally with respect to a transverse direction of the two opposite side walls having passages. 
   
   
       49 . The box-shaped device of  claim 47 , wherein the two opposite side walls having passages are disposed in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the panel, and wherein the two opposite side walls having passages each further comprise two side wall halves, each side wall half adjoining either the first square panel half or the second square panel half, and wherein the passages in each of the two opposite side walls are disposed in opposite side wall halves and are disposed centrally with respect a longitudinal direction of the side wall halves. 
   
   
       50 . The box-shaped device of  claim 25 , wherein the first square panel half and the second square panel half each comprise a point-symmetrical design. 
   
   
       51 . A method for using a box-shaped device for holding water, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the box-shaped device, the box-shaped device comprising: at least four partially open side walls; and a panel extending between the side walls, the panel having an inside surface and an outside surface, the panel having a rectangular shape with a width and a length, the width the panel being half of the length of the panel, and the panel having a first square panel half and a second square panel half, the first and second square panel halves determined by the rectangular shape of the panel, wherein the side walls and the panel enclose an interior space in which water can be held, and wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of columns on the inside surface of the panel, the columns extending substantially parallel to the side walls, and wherein the first square panel half of the panel comprises a first free passage disposed in the center of the first square panel half, the first free passage ending in the interior space enclosed by the side walls and the panel;   placing the box-shaped device below ground, wherein the panel is disposed substantially horizontally; and   moving an apparatus through the free passage in order to carry out work in the interior space of the device.   
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising the step of inspecting the interior space of the device using the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus comprises an inspection apparatus such as a TV camera. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising the step of cleaning the interior space of the device using a cleaning device such as a spraying device.