Rapid release device for folding frame tank drain sleeves and related systems and methods

Abstract

Drain sleeve retention and release assembly embodiments having a pivotable bar rotatably attached to a water tank frame and a releasable attachment mechanism attached to the frame, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position a retracted position, wherein a flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the frame when the releasable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly for a portable water tank, the assembly comprising:
 (a) a pivotable bar pivotably attached to a first vertical post of a frame of the water tank, wherein the pivotable bar is movable between a clamped position adjacent to a top rail of the frame and a released position;   (b) a releasable attachment mechanism attached to a second vertical post adjacent to the first vertical post, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position in which the releasable attachment mechanism retains the pivotable bar in the clamped positioned between the releasable attachment mechanism and the top rail and a retracted position,   wherein a flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the top rail when the releaseable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the released position comprises a portion of the pivotable bar being disposed at some distance from the top rail of the frame such that the portion of the pivotable bar is not adjacent to the top rail. 
     
     
         3 . The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable bar comprises a first end, wherein the first end is pivotably attached to the first vertical post. 
     
     
         4 . The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the pivotable bar comprises a second end opposite the first end, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar at a location near the second end when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         5 . The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable attachment mechanism comprises a deployable plunger and a handle operably coupled thereto, wherein the deployable plunger is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the handle is movable into a parallel position such that the deployable plunger is urged into an extended position, whereby the pivotable bar is urged into the clamped position. 
     
     
         7 . A portable water tank, comprising:
 (a) a foldable receptacle comprising a bottom wall and vertical sidewalls;   (b) a frame configured to support the sidewalls in an upright position, the frame comprising at least three frame sides, wherein each frame side comprises:
 (i) a top rail; 
 (ii) a bottom rail; and 
 (iii) at least three vertical posts coupled to the top rail and the bottom rail; 
   (c) a flexible drain sleeve attached to one of the vertical sidewalls, the flexible drain sleeve comprises a lumen defined therein, wherein the lumen is in fluidic communication with an interior of the foldable receptacle, wherein the flexible drain sleeve extends from one of the at least three frame sides such that the flexible sleeve is disposed between a first vertical post of the at least three vertical posts and a second vertical post of the at least three vertical posts; and   (d) a releasable drain sleeve attachment assembly comprising:
 (i) a pivotable bar pivotably attached to the first vertical post, wherein the pivotable bar is movable between a clamped position adjacent to the top rail and a released position; and 
 (ii) a releasable attachment mechanism attached to the second vertical post, wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is movable between a deployed position in which the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position between the releasable attachment mechanism and the top rail and a retracted position, 
   wherein the flexible drain sleeve is positionable between the pivotable bar and the top rail such that the flexible drain sleeve is releasably clamped between the pivotable bar and the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is disposed in the deployed position.   
     
     
         8 . The portable water tank of  claim 7 , wherein the pivotable bar comprises:
 (a) a first end, wherein the first end is pivotably attached to the first vertical post; and   (b) a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is substantially adjacent to the top rail and the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position.   
     
     
         9 . The portable water tank of  claim 8 , wherein the second end is not adjacent to the top rail or the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is in the released position. 
     
     
         10 . The portable water tank of  claim 8 , wherein the second end is movable away from the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is urged toward the retracted position. 
     
     
         11 . The portable water tank of  claim 8 , wherein the second end is moveable toward the top rail when the releasable attachment mechanism is urged toward the clamped position. 
     
     
         12 . The portable water tank of  claim 8 , wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar at a location near the second end when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         13 . The portable water tank of  claim 7 , wherein the releasable attachment mechanism comprises a deployable plunger and a handle operably coupled thereto, wherein the deployable plunger is positionable in contact with the pivotable bar when the releasable attachment mechanism is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         14 . The portable water tank of  claim 13 , wherein the handle is movable into a parallel position such that the deployable plunger is urged into an extended position, whereby the pivotable bar is urged into the clamped position. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a portable water tank drain sleeve, the method comprising:
 placing a flexible drain sleeve over a pivotable bar, wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached to a frame of a portable water tank;   actuating a releasable attachment mechanism to urge the pivotable bar upward toward a top rail such that the pivotable bar is adjacent to or in contact with the top rail, whereby the pivotable bar and the flexible drain sleeve are disposed in a clamped position such that the flexible drain sleeve is fixedly disposed between the pivotable bar and the top rail; and   actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail, whereby the flexible drain sleeve is released from the clamped position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached to a first vertical post of the frame, and wherein the releasable attachment mechanism is attached to a second vertical post of the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pivotable bar is rotatably attached at a first end of the pivotable bar to the first vertical post of the framed, wherein the pivotable bar further comprises a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is substantially adjacent to the top rail and the second vertical post when the pivotable bar is disposed in the clamped position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail results in the second end moving away from the top rail and the second vertical post. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to urge the pivotable bar upward further comprises actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to move into a deployed position such that the releasable attachment mechanism urges the pivotable bar upward into the clamped position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to allow the pivotable bar to move away from the top rail further comprises actuating the releasable attachment mechanism to move into a retracted position.