SPLASH BLOCK WITH DIFFUSER
A splash block having a trough and a diffuser arrangement for use in controlling water dispensed from a downspout of a home or building. The diffuser arrangement including a plurality of diffusing elements that displace a high flow of water produced from a heavy downpour in a random dispensing pattern to prevent erosion of the surrounding ground material. The diffuser arrangement also defining low-flow pathways that accommodate a low flow of water through the trough.
The present disclosure relates generally to devices for use in diverting rainwater away from a home or building. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a splash block used in association with a downspout of a home or building.
BACKGROUNDA wide variety of splash block arrangements have been utilized for carrying run-off water collected by a gutter system away from a home or building. The more common conventional arrangements include a block structure that defines a trough. The block structure is placed under the downspout of a gutter system. Water dispensed from the downspout into the trough of the block structure runs to an open end of the trough and away from the foundation of the home or building.
In heavy downpours, excessive amounts of rainwater exiting the open end of the trough can cause surrounding landscape material to wash away, and can create ruts in the ground adjacent to the open end of the trough. In general, improvement has been sought with respect to such arrangements, generally to prevent the occurrence of erosion or a washout during heavy rain downpours.
SUMMARYOne aspect of the present disclosure relates to a splash block having a trough and a diffuser arrangement. The diffuser arrangement displaces a high flow of water from a heavy downpour in a random dispensing pattern, yet also permits a low flow of water to exit the trough at a downstream trough end. The random dispensing pattern produced by the diffuser arrangement during a heavy rain downpour prevents the erosion or washout of surrounding ground material.
A variety of examples of desirable product features and methods are set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing various aspects of the disclosure. The aspects of the disclosure may relate to individual features as well as combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the claimed invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to various features of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the trough 12 is made of plastic; although the trough 12 can be made of a variety of other materials, such as concrete or metal, for example. The side walls 20, 22 and the back wall 24 are formed integrally with the base 18 of the trough 12. In the alternative, the walls 20, 22, 24 can be separate components joined to the base 18 to define the trough 12.
Referring now to
In particular, conventional splash blocks commonly have an open trough end. Heavy water flow exiting the open trough end can wash away surrounding ground material. The surrounding ground material can include soil, wood chips, and decorative stone, for example. Such heavy water flow can even create ruts in established lawns, erode soil away from plantings, and over time, deteriorate building materials such as masonry and asphalt.
In the illustrated embodiment of
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the diffusing elements 32 are discrete elements. That is, the elements 32 are separate or individually distinct from one another. The low-flow openings 34 are located between and adjacent to the discrete diffusing elements 32. Each of the discrete diffusing elements 32 projects upward from the planar bottom surface 26 of the base 18. The discrete diffusing elements 32 are formed integrally with the base 18 of the trough 12; although the elements can also be non-integral components joined to the base 18.
Each of the diffusing elements 32 defines a transition region 36 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the diffusing elements 32 are triangular in shape, and in particular, are constructed has right-triangles having a hypotenuse or ramped surface 38 oriented to face the normal flow of water. The ramped surfaces 38 of the diffusing elements 32 are the transition regions 36 that divert water flow from the low-flow water pathways to the high-flow water pathways. In one embodiment, the ramped surfaces 38 of the diffusing elements 32 are oriented at angle of between 30 and 60 degrees relative to the planar bottom surface 26 of the base 18; which creates the vertical vector of the second random direction of flow (represented by random arrows B).
The high-flow water pathways direct water flow above the low-flow water pathways; in particular, the high-flow water pathways are defined as pathways that run up and off the diffusing elements 32 of the diffuser arrangement 30. The high-flow water pathways dispense water produced from a high flow of water in a random dispensing pattern at the first end 14 of the trough 12. A high flow of water is a flow of an amount of water that can cause erosion or washout; for example, a flow of water at a rate that exceeds the saturation rate of the surrounding ground.
The high-flow water pathways are random, that is, the water flow may run up and off either side of a diffusing element, or may run up and over the diffusing element 24, as shown by random arrows B in
Referring back to
Referring to
In alternative embodiments, the diffusing elements can all have the same width, or can all have different widths, and/or can be arranged in a different pattern of locations. For example, referring to
In use, the splash block is positioned underneath the downspout of a gutter system of a house or building to control the flow of rainwater from the downspout. When a low flow of rainwater is dispensed from the downspout, the splash block directs the rainwater through the low-flow openings 34, 134 at the end of the trough 12, 112. When a high flow of rainwater from a downpour is dispensed from the downspout, the diffuser arrangement 30, 130 of the splash block diverts the high rainwater flow and displaces or dispenses the water in a random pattern about the surrounding area. Displacing or dispensing the rainwater in a random pattern reduces the concentration of flow in one particular region and prevents erosion or washout.
Referring now to
Similar to the previous embodiments, the trough 212 is made of plastic; although the trough 212 can be made of a variety of other materials, such as concrete or metal, for example. The side walls 220, 222 and the back wall 224 are formed integrally with the base 218 of the trough 212. In the alternative, the walls 220, 222, 224 can be separate components joined to the base 218 to define the trough 212.
The splash block 210 includes a diffuser arrangement 230. The diffuser arrangement is located within the trough 212 of the splash block 210. The diffuser arrangement 230 is designed to diffuse and slow water flow during heavy rain downpours. That is, the flow of rainwater is diverted and dispensed in an irregular or non-uniform manner. By slowing and diffusing the water, surrounding ground material is not washed-out or eroded by the flow of water exiting the trough, as is a common problem with conventional splash blocks.
In the illustrated embodiment of
The plurality of projections or diffusing elements 232 of the diffuser arrangement 230 is configured to obstruct or disrupt the normal flow of water through the trough 212 during a heavy downpour. The normal flow of water is a flow of water in the direction represented by arrow A through the first end 214 of trough 212. In particular, the diffusing elements 232 are configured to redirect water in a random dispensing pattern within the trough 212, and in following, out the first end 214 of the trough 212. This random dispensing pattern is provided particularly during heavy down pours. Yet, a low flow of water is still permitted to exit the trough 212 without significant impedance; as opposed to being trapped at the first end until the collected water exceeds a particular level.
In the illustrated embodiment, the projections or diffusing elements 232 are discrete elements. That is, the diffusing elements 232 are separate or individually distinct from one another. Each of the diffusing elements 232 is formed integrally with the base 218 of the trough 212; although the elements can also be non-integral components joined to the base 218. The diffusing elements 232 of the present disclosure each have a height H1. Preferably, the height H1 is sufficient enough to create an obstruction and diversion of water flow. In the illustrated embodiment, the height H1 of each of the elements 232 can vary but is generally less than about ½ inch. As shown in
In addition to the varying sizes, the diffusing elements 232 also have varying shapes. The shapes can include square, rectangular, or pentagonal shapes that have either irregular or regular side lengths. Other shapes can be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the shape of each diffusing element is defined by sidewalls 242 that extend generally perpendicular to the bottom surface 226 of the base 218; although the sidewalls can also be angled. The sidewalls 242 of the diffusing elements 232 divert water flow from the normal water pathway to random water pathways (represented by arrows B). The random water pathways redirect water in a random dispensing pattern. In heavier flow, the water obstructed by the sidewalls 242 of the projections 232 may further spray or crash off the projections in random directions. The disruption of flow and random spray or displacement of water prevents erosion of the surrounding ground material.
As shown in
In alternative embodiments, the diffusing elements or projections can be arranged in a different pattern relative to one another, and/or have a different appearance or aesthetic feel. For example, referring to
In use, the splash block is positioned underneath the downspout of a gutter system of a house or building to control the flow of rainwater from the downspout. When a high flow of rainwater is dispensed from the downspout, the projections or diffusing element 232, 332 of the splash block divert and displace the rainwater in a random pattern. Displacing or dispensing the rainwater in a random pattern reduces the concentration of flow in one particular region and prevents erosion or washout.
The above specification provides a complete description of the present invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, certain aspects of the invention reside in the claims hereinafter appended.
Claims
1. A splash block, comprising:
- a) a trough having a first end and a second end, the trough being constructed such that water dispensed into the trough runs in a first direction of flow from the second end toward the first end, the trough including a base;
- b) a diffuser arrangement located at the first end of the trough, the diffuser arrangement including: i) at least one low-flow opening that permits a low flow of water to exit the trough at the first end, the low-flow opening coinciding with the base of the trough; and ii) a plurality of diffusing elements that displaces water in a random dispensing pattern at the first end of the trough, the diffusing elements projecting upward from the base of the trough.
2. The block of claim 1 wherein:
- a) the diffuser arrangement includes a plurality of low-flow openings coinciding with the base of the trough.
3. The block of claim 2 wherein:
- a) each of the diffusing elements are discrete diffusing elements, the low-flow openings being located between the discrete diffusing elements.
4. The block of claim 1 wherein:
- a) the base of the trough defines a substantially planar bottom surface.
5. The block of claim 1 wherein:
- a) each of the diffusing elements includes a transition region that diverts water flow from the first direction of flow to a second random direction of flow different than the first direction of flow.
6. The block of claim 5 wherein:
- a) the transition regions of the diffusing elements are ramped surfaces that divert water flow from the first direction of flow to the second random direction of flow.
7. The block of claim 1 wherein:
- a) each of the diffusing elements has a width, the width of some diffusing elements being different from the width of other diffusing elements.
8. The block of claim 1 wherein:
- a) each of the diffusing elements has a width, the widths of each of the diffusing elements being generally the same.
9. The block of claim 1 wherein:
- a) the diffuser arrangement includes a plurality of low flow openings defined between the plurality of diffusing elements, each of the low flow openings having a width of between about 1/16 and ½ inch.
10. The block of claim 1 wherein:
- a) each of the diffusing elements are triangular constructions that project upward from the base of the trough.
11. The block of claim 10 wherein:
- a) the triangular constructions are right-angle triangular constructions having a hypotenuse, the hypotenuse being oriented to face the flow of water.
12. The block of claim 1 wherein;
- a) the trough includes opposing side walls extending between the first and second ends of the trough, and a back wall located at the second end of the trough.
13. A splash block, comprising:
- a) a trough having a first end and a second end, the trough being constructed such that water dispensed into the trough runs in a direction from the second end toward the first end, the trough including a base;
- b) a diffuser arrangement located at the first end of the trough, the diffuser arrangement including: i) at least one low-flow water pathway that permits a low flow of water to exit the trough at the first end, the low-flow water pathway coinciding with the base of the trough; ii) a plurality of high-flow water pathways that displaces a high flow of water in a random dispensing pattern at the first end of the trough, the high-flow water pathways directing water flow above the at least one low-flow water pathway.
14. The block of claim 13 wherein:
- a) the diffuser arrangement includes a plurality of low-flow water pathways coinciding with the base of the trough.
15. The block of claim 13 wherein:
- a) the high-flow water pathways are provided by diffusing elements that divert water flow from the at least one low-flow water pathway to the high-flow water pathways.
16. The block of claim 15 wherein:
- a) the diffusing elements include a plurality of discrete diffusing elements that project upward from the base of the trough.
17. A method of controlling water flow from a downspout, the method comprising that steps of:
- a) providing a splash block, the splash block including a trough;
- b) positioning the splash block in relation to a downspout such that water dispensed from the downspout is received in the trough;
- c) directing a low flow of water dispensed from the downspout through openings located at an end of the trough, the openings coinciding with a bottom surface of the trough; and
- d) disrupting a high flow of water dispensed from the downspout at the end of the trough, the step of disrupting the high flow of water including displacing the water in a random pattern to prevent erosion of surrounding ground material.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 27, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
Inventors: Ken Anderson (DePere, WI), Jonathan Records (Appleton, WI), Linda Draheim (Neenah, WI)
Application Number: 11/769,251
International Classification: E02B 9/04 (20060101);