Scupper for enclosed patio, porch or pool

Abstract

A scupper, for providing access to a screen enclosed area, comprising a stationary base plate, for securing to a frame member, and a pivotable door. The base plate has an elongate groove therein for securing a screen to the base plate and supports a first component of a hinge. The pivotable door carries a mating component of the hinge which mates with the first component of the hinge to facilitate pivoting of the door relative to the base plate. The scupper provides an access opening for an enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area to facilitate passage of a garden hose, or the like, therethrough and / or facilitate cleaning thereof with water.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a scupper or trap door for an enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area as well as a method of modifying an enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area to provide a small access door or scupper to facilitate cleaning of the enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area and / or facilitate passage of a garden hose, or the like, therethrough.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In many parts of the United States, the areas of houses or other buildings providing outdoor access to porches, patios, lanais, pool areas and similar areas, are not only covered but are completely enclosed by screening or netting to prevent unwanted bugs, insects, animals and the like from entering the enclosed area. However, due to the enclosed area also being exposed to the environment, the enclosed area has as tendency to become soiled or dirty due to the passage of pollen, dust, dirt, fine particulate matter and other debris through the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Still another object of the present invention is to provide a trap door, an access port or a scupper which is suitable for readily modifying an existing enclosed screened area to easily adapt or modify such enclosed screened area to allow passage of a garden hose or the like through the enclosed screened area to facilitate washing of the enclosed screened area, filling of a pool, hot tub, etc.

[0007]Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a trap door, an access port or a scupper for allowing water carrying pollen, dust, dirt, fine particulate matter and / or other debris to pass therethrough and facilitate cleaning of the base surface located within the enclosed screened area.

[0008]A still further object of the present invention is to provide a trap door, an access port or a scupper which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and relatively simple to install on either an existing enclosed screened area or a newly erected enclosed screened area.

[0009]Another object of the present invention is to provide a trap door, an access port or a scupper which has a relatively small access opening so as to prevent an infant, a pet or a child from passing therethrough while, at the same time, still being sufficiently large in size to allow a garden hose and / or pollen, dust, dirt, fine particulate matter and / or other debris and / or water carrying such debris to readily pass therethrough.

[0010]The present invention also relates to a scupper for providing access to a screen enclosed area, the scupper comprising: a stationary base plate for securing to a frame member, the base plate having an elongate groove therein for securing a screen to the base plate, and the base plate supporting a first component of a hinge; and a pivotable door carrying a mating component of the hinge which mates with the first component of the hinge to facilitate pivoting of the door relative to the base plate.

Problems solved by technology

However, due to the enclosed area also being exposed to the environment, the enclosed area has as tendency to become soiled or dirty due to the passage of pollen, dust, dirt, fine particulate matter and other debris through the screen and entering the enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area, and settling on the furniture and / or base surface of the enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area.

Although these enclosed lanais, pools, patios, porches or other areas may be provided with a door or access opening, it is often difficult to remove the larger particulate matter and other debris which may collect in the enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area the enclosed area.

If the enclosed screened area is equipped with a human access door, it is undesirable to run the garden hose through the doorway due to the creation of a potentially hazardous condition where a person using the doorway may trip over the garden hose, and the garden hose generally prevents the screen door from being latched or locked, this also may result in the high winds forcing the door open and damaging either the spring or the door hinges or possibly permitting access to the enclosed lanai, pool, patio, porch or other area by an intruder.

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