FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to rain gutter and downspouts and landscape drainage. More particularly, it relates to a downspout extension apparatus designed for safe and efficient passage for pedestrians, wheelchairs, and other wheeled objects to travel over the waterway.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Commonly, buildings are outfitted with gutters along the roof to collect rain water, and downspouts which provide a channel for the water to drain from the gutters. Often times, the downspouts are dumping the water directly onto non-permeable surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways. This creates a hazard for passersby, and also an unavoidable waterway where the path of travel may cause inconveniences such as a person's clothing may get wet. In colder climates, this is of particular concern as the water often times turns to slippery ice, creating a tort liability, in addition to a potential fall hazard. Builders design their buildings for convenience and the most obvious and direct path of travel, but usually fail to take into account the physical limitations of where the water runoff will be dispersed. It is common to see downspouts dumping on or near sidewalks and driveways because there is no other reasonable option for the gutter installer to direct the water.
Several attempts have been made in the art to provide a downspout extension that directs water away from a building by simply adding another piece of downspout material. Some examples of these attempts are the bendable corrugated plastic pipe and adaptors that are connected to a downspout, splash blocks, and downspout pipe extensions. These all provide options that introduce a new hazard—that of tripping a person, or if the extension is not fastened it is often times kicked and moved out of its optimal performance alignment.
One example is an extension tube such as U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,837 B1 issued to Jeffrey E. Smith, which is not fastened to the ground and creates a trip hazard, as well as the unsightly aesthetics of corrugated plastic tubing stretching spanning its length.
Another example is the U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,519 issued to Brian McCaughan which offers a downspout extension that automatically drops down into an operable position when enough rain has fallen to engage the latching device. The problem again is that this presents a trip hazard during the rain storm, as well as requiring a manual intervention to raise the extension back up into its waiting position.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a retro-fitted, easily installed, contained pathway for water to travel from a downspout over a sidewalk or driveway. It is rigid, weight-bearing, and affixed to the concrete or surface with anchors. Its low-profile is designed to accommodate wheelchairs, bicycles, and wheeled carts, as well as foot traffic, with safe passage over areas where a downspout discharges water onto non-permeable surfaces. Materials for construction should be strong, weight-bearing, and rigid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION There are 3 basic modules which are combined to create a customized solution: The Spout Portal, the Conduit and Bridge section(s), and the Outlet.
The Spout Portal attaches to the downspout and discharges the water into the Conduit. Inside the mouth of the Spout Portal is a screening mechanism to prevent debris from clogging the flow. Access for removing the debris trapped by the screen is via a small door on the front. The Conduit delivers the storm-water across the path of travel. It consists of one or more sections of various predetermined fixed lengths connected together by fasteners to allow for a customized application. The joint where two Conduit sections fasten together will be sealed to provide a water-tight seam. Each Conduit section is composed of a base unit which has pre-drilled holes for the fasteners that anchor the body to the substrate (concrete, asphalt, roadbase, wood, etc.) The Conduit is covered by a Bridge unit which is fastened to the Conduit with fasteners that allow for post-installation removal and cleaning. The Bridge will be relatively flat across the top, with both edges angled down to the concrete to provide a ramp designed to easily allow wheelchairs, and other wheeled objects to travel over it relatively unobstructed. To increase traction, the Bridge surface will offer various designs for grip, aesthetics, as well as the ability to have customized designs created in the manufacturing process—for example, someone's last name. The Bridge will also be made available in various colors for further personalization.
The final section is the Outlet, which is a short, unibody terminating section with the lid and the body as one piece, and finished edges at the discharge end. This end piece will attach to the final Conduit section in the same fashion as each of the sections preceding it have been attached—with fasteners.
There will be an option of having an integrated heater cable system for colder climates whereby each section will have electrical connectors at both ends, as well as the head unit which will have a built-in GFCI protected plug extruding, and the Outlet section will complete the circuit. This will prevent ice-damming during winter months.
Because one solution may not encompass all requirements, there will be sections available which are curved in both 45-degree and 90-degree, left and right turns to allow for directing water around corners. Additionally, to compensate for changes in slope of driveways and sidewalks, there will be a special adaptor section to adjoin two Conduit sections with the ability to allow for change of angle.
As downspouts are based on industry-standardized shapes and sizes, this product will be designed and manufactured to accommodate greater than the volume of the application. As an example, a standard 2×3 downspout has 6 square inches of cross-section surface area, a 3×4 downspout has 12 square inches. The Conduit would have greater than 6 or greater than 12 square inches, respectively. Therefore, it is fairly obvious that our product would be available in a multitude of sizes to resolve both residential and commercial requirements. The Spout Portal will connect to both rectangular and with an adaptor, round downspouts encompassing all industry-standard shapes and sizes, and the Conduit and Outlet sections would be sized appropriately for the application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The description provided above, along with the drawings should provide enough detail to make obvious the uniqueness of this particular invention, separating the invention from others that have come before.
FIG. 1 shows the invention in a typical installation with the Spout Portal, the Conduit/Bridge, and the Outlet being applied in typical fashion providing a pathway for water flowing from the downspout across the sidewalk and discharging into the grass.
FIG. 2 shows a Conduit section with the Bridge affixed.
FIG. 3a shows the cross-section of the Bridge while FIG. 3b shows the cross-section of the Conduit.
FIG. 4a shows a side-view of the Spout Portal, while FIG. 4b shows the front-view of the Spout Portal.
FIG. 5 shows a 90-degree corner section, which will be available in both left and right configurations.
FIG. 6 shows the 45-degree corner section, also available in both left and right configurations.
FIG. 7a shows the Outlet which is one solid piece.
FIG. 7b shows the side-view of the end-unit showing that the discharge end is not designed to connect to any other piece.
FIG. 8a shows the general side-view of how any 2 sections will connect to each other.
FIG. 8b is the birds-eye view of this connection.
FIG. 9 shows the side-view of the special angle-adjustable Conduit which allows for change of slope in sidewalk or driveway.
FIG. 10 shows the special angle-adjustable Conduit which allows for change of slope in sidewalk or driveway.
FIG. 11a and FIG. 11b shows the birds-eye view of the special angle-adjustable Conduit which allows for change of slope in sidewalk or driveway as two separate pieces.
FIG. 12 shows the profile of the junction of the two pieces of the special angle-adjustable Conduit which allows for change of slope in sidewalk or driveway.
FIG. 13 shows the adaptor for round downspouts to connect to the Spout Portal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The details of each drawing are indicated herein by their respective numberings.
FIG. 1 shows a typical building with the roof draining into the gutter 3 which is further connected to the downspout 4. At the termination of the downspout the Spout Portal 1 contains the filter-screen clean-out access door 2. The Spout Portal increases width 5 to match the connection 6 to the Conduit section. The Bridge 8 covers the Conduit and is attached to the aforementioned with Bridge fasteners 7. The removable Bridge 8 has angled edges 9 to act as ramps for wheelchairs. Though not shown here, multiple Conduit sections can be fastened together to facilitate the desired length. The final Conduit section will be fastened to the Outlet 10 and the water will discharge from the open-end of the Outlet 11.
FIG. 2 shows the details of a Conduit section 12 with the lid 8 attached. As indicated prior, the removable lid 8 is attached to the Conduit section with fasteners 7 and has angled edges 9 to accommodate wheelchairs. The storm water path of travel is indicated 15 separated by Bridge supports 18 and the center Bridge support 19 which is a thicker width to accommodate the Bridge fasteners 7. The outermost Bridge supports 20 have both male (not visible) and female tabs 14 which is how the sections are connected and affixed with fasteners. The ramp supports 17 provide additional support to the Bridge ramps. The Conduit sections are affixed to the concrete driveway or sidewalk with anchor fasteners in pre-drilled locations 13. The anchor fasteners are located between 34 the Bridge ramp supports 17 and the outermost Bridge supports 20. Each seam where two sections meet is a gasket 16 to ensure a water-tight seal.
FIG. 3a shows the cross-section of the removable Bridge 8 indicating the Bridge fasteners 7 and the wheelchair ramp edges 9. Letters depicting measurements are for general reference only. Actual dimensions will be determined by the requirements of the application. FIG. 3b shows the cross-section of the Conduit 12 and shows that it is affixed to the substrate with anchoring fasteners 22. The storm water path of travel is indicated 15 separated by Bridge supports 18 and the center Bridge support 19 which is a thicker width to accommodate the Bridge fasteners 7. The outermost Bridge supports 20 have both male (not visible) and female tabs 14 which is how the sections are connected and affixed with fasteners. The ramp supports 17 provide additional support to the Bridge ramps. The Conduit sections are affixed to the concrete driveway or sidewalk with anchor fasteners 22 in pre-drilled locations 13. The anchor fasteners 22 are located between 34 the Bridge ramp supports 17 and the outermost Bridge support 20. Letters depicting measurements are for general reference only. Actual dimensions will be determined by the requirements of the application.
FIG. 4a shows the side-view of the Spout Portal 1 with the debris filter-screen 30 and the clean-out access door 2 which has a knob 31 with which to grasp and open it. The Spout Portal has only female tab receptacles 14 to receive the Conduit section male tabs.
FIG. 4b shows the front view of the Spout Portal. The downspout is inserted into the mouth of the Spout Portal 1 and discharges 6 into the Conduit. The Spout Portal expands in width 5 to match the Conduit width. The Spout Portal has female tab receptacles to facilitate the male tabs on the Conduit FIG. 8A 21. On the face of the Spout Portal is the clean-out access door 2 and the handle to operate it 31. There is a gasket 16 at the discharge end 6 to seal the connection to the Conduit section. Letters depicting measurements are for general reference only. Actual dimensions will be determined by the requirements of the application.
FIG. 5 shows a 90-degree curve Conduit section. The Bridge edges 9 are ramped and follow the curve of the Conduit radius. The Bridge 8 is attached to the Conduit with removable fasteners 7. The Conduit shows both male 21 and female 14 tabs so it is fairly obvious there will be both left and right curved sections. The curved Conduit section will be fastened to the ground with anchor fasteners.
FIG. 6 shows a 45-degree curve Conduit section. The Bridge edges 9 are ramped and follow the curve of the Conduit radius. The Bridge 8 is attached to the Conduit with removable fasteners 7. The Conduit shows only the male tabs 21 visible, however, the female tab receptacles are on the opposite end and there will be both left and right curved sections. The curved Conduit section will be fastened to the ground with anchor fasteners in the same fashion and profile as the straight Conduit sections.
FIGS. 7a and 7b shows the Outlet section. The Outlet section has only male tabs 21 which connect to the final Conduit section female tab receptacles. The exhaust end 32 of the Outlet has finished edges with some artistic leeway. The Outlet Conduit and the Outlet Bridge are not separable.
FIG. 8a shows the side-view of how two sections will be joined together. The left side has the male tab 21 which will fit into the female tab receptacle. The two sections will be fastened together by inserting a fastener into the center of the pre-drilled tabs 33. Each section will be further secured by anchor fasteners 13 affixing it to the substrate.
FIG. 8b shows the birds-eye of part of the conduit to give perspective of how the sections are to be joined. The end with the male tab is on the left, and the female tab receptacle is on the right. The Conduit is to be anchored in pre-drilled locations 13 between the Bridge ramp supports 17 and the outermost Bridge support 20. The waterway 15 is shown and a Bridge support 18.
FIG. 9 shows the special slope adjustable section. This Conduit piece does not have a Bridge and is not fastened to the substrate. This special Conduit is constructed as two separate pieces, which are joined by a hinge-type mechanism that has a gasket to seal the water from escaping. The edge of the hinge with the male tab is rounded and fits into a concave contour edge of the hinge with the female tab 14. The hinge is designed to allow for positive or negative angle adjustment within a certain degree of arc.
FIG. 10 shows the special angle-adjustable section from a different viewpoint. As indicated by numberings, the female tab receptacle 14 is located on the sidewall that aligns with the outermost Bridge supports 20 and has a pre-drilled hole 33 to accept a fastener. The waterway 15 is without a center or other Bridge supports as this Conduit section is without a Bridge. As with other Conduit sections, the end has a gasket 16 to make the joint water-tight. The hinge is composed of a rounded edge 35 and a concave edge which has a gasket 34 to prevent leakage at the hinge. The upstream piece has a formed extension 36 which prevents leakage at the outermost Bridge supports.
FIG. 11a shows the male hinge part separated from the female hinge part (FIG. 11b) as individual pieces. In this birds-eye view it is possible to see the pivot nipple 37 which facilitates the rotation of the two pieces while keeping them interlocked. Not in view is the female receptacle for the pivot nipple.
FIG. 12 shows the side-view detail of how the hinge fits together. There is a rounded edge 35 which has the pivot nipple 37. The rounded edge 35 fits snugly to the concave edge 38 of the downstream part by snapping the pivot nipple 37 into a female receptacle (not visible), and the joint is made water-tight by a gasket 34 at the top of the concave edge 38. The waterway 15 is shown for consistency.
FIG. 13 shows the adaptor for a round-downspout to be used at the Spout Portal. The round downspout is inserted into the mouth 39 and the adaptor changes to a rectangular shape 40 which fits inside of the Spout Portal.
