Stormwater Drain Backflow Flood Control Device

Abstract

A stormwater drain backflow control device having a sheet-like, liquid impermeable, skirt member, preferably flexible, and a circular drain opening to allow water to flow through the device and into the catch basin. A cage assembly depends beneath the skirt member beneath the opening, the cage assembly retaining a spherical float member in a manner that allows the float member to rise within the cage assembly and seal the drain opening in the event that the water level within the catch basin rises.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A stormwater drain backflow control device comprising:
 a skirt member composed of a liquid impermeable material and having an opening;   a cage assembly connected to said skirt member, said cage assembly comprising a guide chute and a circular opening communicating with said opening of said skirt member;   a spherical float member retained within said guide chute, wherein the diameter of said float member is greater than the diameter of said cage assembly circular opening;   whereby said spherical float member is freely retained within said guide chute such that rising water forces said spherical float member into said cage assembly circular opening, thereby sealing said cage member circular opening.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said cage assembly further comprises an upper plate, and wherein said guide assembly circular opening is positioned within said upper plate, and wherein said skirt member is connected to said upper plate. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said cage assembly further comprises a lower plate member. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said guide chute comprises elongated rod members. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said skirt member material is a flexible, non-self-supporting material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising spacer members positioned on said upper plate. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter or screen material positioned across said cage assembly circular opening. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said filter or screen material is positioned above said cage assembly circular opening. 
     
     
         9 . A stormwater drain backflow control device in combination with a storm drain catch basin comprising a catch basin wall, a catch basin shoulder and a removable grate positioned on said catch basin shoulder, said stormwater drain backflow flood prevention device comprising:
 a skirt member composed of a liquid impermeable material and having an opening;   a cage assembly connected to said skirt member, said cage assembly comprising a guide chute and a circular opening communicating with said opening of said skirt member;   a spherical float member retained within said guide chute, wherein the diameter of said float member is greater than the diameter of said cage assembly circular opening;   and wherein said skirt member is disposed between said grate and said catch basin shoulder such that said cage assembly is positioned beneath said skirt member and within said catch basin, whereby said spherical float member is freely retained within said guide chute such that rising water within said catch basin forces said spherical float member upward into said cage assembly circular opening, thereby sealing said cage member circular opening and preventing said water from passing upward through said grate.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said cage assembly further comprises an upper plate, and wherein said guide assembly circular opening is positioned within said upper plate, and wherein said skirt member is connected to said upper plate. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said cage assembly further comprises a lower plate member. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said guide chute comprises elongated rod members. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said skirt member material is a flexible, non-self-supporting material. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising spacer members positioned on said upper plate. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a filter or screen material positioned across said cage assembly circular opening. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said filter or screen material is positioned above said cage assembly circular opening. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preventing backflow through a stormwater drain catch basin comprising a removable grate positioned atop a catch basin shoulder comprising the steps of:
 providing a stormwater drain backflow control device comprising:   a skirt member composed of a liquid impermeable material and having an opening;   a cage assembly connected to said skirt member, said cage assembly comprising a guide chute and a circular opening communicating with said opening of said skirt member;   a spherical float member retained within said guide chute, wherein the diameter of said float member is greater than the diameter of said cage assembly circular opening;   whereby said spherical float member is freely retained within said guide chute such that rising water forces said spherical float member into said cage assembly circular opening, thereby sealing said cage member circular opening;   removing said grate and positioning said skirt member between said grate and said catch basin shoulder such that said cage assembly is positioned within said catch basin; and   replacing said grate such that the weight of said grate retains said stormwater drain backflow flood prevention device within said catch basin.