U.S. patent application number 11/069123 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for customizable drain guard.
Invention is credited to James MacIntyre.
Application Number | 20060191208 11/069123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36930782 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060191208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MacIntyre; James |
August 31, 2006 |
Customizable drain guard
Abstract
A perforated drain guard for blocking debris while allowing
liquid flow from a channel into a drain is disclosed. The drain
guard includes a central portion and rotatable and removeable
sloped wings permitting customization for varying channel shapes.
Optimal materials, adhesives, sizes, and methods of manufacture and
installation are also disclosed. The drain guard is customized
during installation and may be adhered in place to the channel.
Inventors: |
MacIntyre; James; (Port
Coquitlam, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAURENCE C. BONAR
917 LOGAN ST
PORT TOWNSEND
WA
98368-2337
US
|
Family ID: |
36930782 |
Appl. No.: |
11/069123 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/0767
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/012 |
International
Class: |
E04D 13/00 20060101
E04D013/00 |
Claims
1. A perforated drain guard adapted to stop debris from passing
therethrough while permitting the passage of fluid, comprised of:
a) a central, hollow, inverted substantially U-shaped section; b)
at least one hollow wing with a top surface projecting at an angle
below horizontal from the top of said central section and two sides
projecting downwards from said top of said wing.
2. The drain guard of claim 1 wherein said central section is
comprised of three substantially square faces, namely a top and two
sides, said sides projecting downwards from said top at
substantially 90.degree..
3. The drain guard of claim 1 wherein said wing is comprised of
three substantially planar faces, namely a top and two sides, said
sides projecting downwards from said top at substantially
90.degree..
4. The drain guard of claim 3 further comprising a tang projecting
from an outer edge of said wing.
5. The drain guard of claim 4 wherein said tang is tapered inward
towards a distal edge of said tang and said tang is parallel to a
top of said central section.
6. The drain guard of claim 1 wherein said perforations are holes
between 5 mm and 15 mm in diameter, thereby permitting liquid flow
while blocking the passage of debris.
7. The drain guard of claim 6 wherein said holes are 9.5 mm (3/8'')
in diameter, said diameter being optimal for blocking debris while
permitting liquid flow.
8. The drain guard of claim 1 wherein said wing is attached to said
central section by a sole contiguous edge, thereby permitting
rotation of said wing about said central section.
9. The drain guard of claim 8 wherein said contiguous edge
comprises perforations along said edge such that said drain guard
easily separates along said edge for installation against a
vertical wall of a channel.
10. The drain guard of claim 1 wherein said drain guard is
comprised of stainless steel.
11. The drain guard of claim 10 wherein said stainless steel is 24
gauge stainless steel.
12. A drain guard for use in a channel for fluids, said drain guard
comprised of an inverted, substantially U-shaped central segment
having a top and two sides on inverted, substantially U-shaped,
sloped ramp segment projecting from each of two ends of said
central segment with a plurality of openings being disposed in said
drain guard.
13. The drain guard of claim 12 wherein said ramp segments are
removeably attached to said central segment.
14. The drain guard of claim 12 wherein said ramp segments are
rotatable about the said edges such that said ramp segments can be
lowered in relation to said central segment for installation about
a drain, the lip of which is raised in relation to the bottom of
said channel.
15. The drain guard of claim 12 wherein a top surface of at least
one ramp segment comprises a solid area with said openings disposed
below said solid area, such that in operation, debris flows across
said solid area and off the sides of said ramps, thereby
maintaining openings free of debris.
16. A method of manufacturing a drain guard consisting of a central
substantially cube shaped portion and at least one sloped wing by
punching out a flat drain guard blank with distinct central and
wing segments and a plurality of openings therethrough.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the subsequent steps
of: a) bending two sides of said central portion downwards at
substantially 90.degree. to said flat central portion; and b)
bending two flaps of said wing portions downwards at substantially
90.degree. to said flat wing portion.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: c)
bending the distal ends of said wings such that a tang is formed on
each said wing which is parallel to said flat central portion.
19. A method of installing a drain guard having a central cube
portion with at least one rotatably and removeably attached ramp
portion and a plurality of openings over a drain hole in a channel
comprising the steps of: a) rotating said ramps such that the base
of each said ramp is flush with a floor of said channel; and b)
placing said drain guard in said channel over said drain hole.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of applying
adhesive to at least one of the bottom edges of said ramp, the
bottom edges of said cube portion and the underneath of a tang at
the end of each said ramp after step (a).
21. The method of claim 17 wherein when said drain hole is adjacent
to a wall of said channel, the additional step of detaching a ramp
from said cube is performed before step (a), such that a side of
said cube abuts said wall.
Description
1. TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to drain guards for use in
gutters to prevent clogging of the gutters and downspouts. In
particular, a gutter drain spout guard with a box-shaped central
portion and two rotatable and detachable sloping wings is
disclosed. The drain guard is modular, customizable and easy to
manufacture and install and minimizes gutter maintenance.
2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Drains and gutters are used to channel the flow of excess
water from buildings thereby avoiding water damage. The roofs of
houses and buildings commonly incorporate rain gutters or eaves
troughs that collect and redirect rainwater.
[0003] Water flow through the downspouts often contains large
particles or debris such as foliage and sediment which will block
or restrict drainage if it is not removed. Damage may then occur
not only to the gutter system, but to the building structure
itself.
[0004] Many devices have been developed to reduce clogging of
gutter systems by attempting to filter out debris, preventing it
from entering and blocking the downspout yet, allowing water to
pass uninterrupted through the filter.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,591 ("'591") issued to
Beechert consists of wire-mesh sheets folded into elongated boxes
which are placed in open drains, shielding the drain from leaves
and other debris. The box design of the '591 Patent is awkward to
install as the entire drain must be filled with the mesh boxing.
The cost of installation is, therefore, high and the boxing must be
customized to fit around obstacles such as supports and
corners.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,712 ("'712") issued to Blau shows a
downspout shield that is hinged and held in place at the corner of
the eaves trough. It has an additional anti-clogging device placed
under the shield above the downspout. The '712 Patent is complex in
construction, including the hinge system, attachment means and
separate anti-clogging device required, further rendering the
device difficult to install. The '712 Patent does not appear to
protect a downspout that is situated in the middle of a length of
gutter. Additionally, both the '591 and '712 Patents are suitable
for "U" shaped gutters only, which are currently extremely rare in
North America.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,602 ("'602") to Sorenson discloses an
inverted U-shaped drain guard with slots for use in a conventional
flat bottomed gutter system. The '602 device is difficult to
manufacture, fits only a single drain size, is not customizable and
inefficient at straining, and not suitable for downspouts at an end
of a gutter, as if designed for downspouts with gutter floor space
on each side of the drain hole.
[0008] The present invention satisfies the need for an easy and
economical device to manufacture and install which optimizes water
flow therethrough while blocking debris, and is customizable to fit
varying gutter designs.
3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A perforated drain guard adapted to stop debris from passing
therethrough, while permitting the passage of fluid, comprised of
an inverted U-shape central portion having a top and two sides and
at least one inverted U-shaped, sloped central wing projecting from
the central portion, with a plurality of openings, is
disclosed.
[0010] The wings are removeably attached to the central portion at
a single edge, permitting easy customization by snapping off the
modular wing where it is not required, for instance in a channel
with a vertical wall adjacent to a drain hole. The drain guard may
also have a tang at the foot of each wing to provide a stable base
and attachment point between the drain guard and the floor of the
channel or gutter. The drain guard is held in place by its own
weight. The wings include a solid portion which channels debris
sideways and off the drain guard.
[0011] A method of installation is disclosed whereby the wings of
the drain guard are rotated downwards if the gutter floor around
the drain hole is raised. Caulking or other adhesives maybe applied
to the bottom edges of the drain guard and the underside of the
tangs. The drain guard is placed in the gutter with the central
portion directly over the drain hole.
[0012] A method of manufacturing a drain guard is also disclosed
wherein a flat drain guard blank is punched out, preferably of 24
gauge stainless steel, including the distinct central and wing
segments and a plurality of openings therethrough. The two sides of
the central portion are bent downwards at substantially 90.degree.
in relation to the flat central portion, and the two flaps of the
wing portions are bent downwards at substantially 90.degree. to the
flat wing portion.
4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The apparatus and method of the present invention will now
be described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drain guard installed in
a conventional gutter over a drain hole, according to the
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a drain guard, according to
the invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a drain guard in a conventional
gutter, according to the invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a stamped out drain guard sheet
during manufacture, according to the invention.
5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Maintaining gutters and down pipes free from debris is a
constant building maintenance challenge. The present invention
provides an economical, easy to manufacture solution in the form of
a modular, customizable and easy to install drain guard 10.
Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the drain guard 10
installed in a conventional gutter 30 (dotted outline) over a drain
hole 34 is shown. The drain guard 10 in assembled form is an
elongated hollow structure comprised of three segmented components.
The underside of the drain guard 10 is open. While the preferred
embodiment is described in terms of a drain guard 10 in a gutter
30, it should be appreciated that the drain guard may be used in
any channel for liquid having a drain.
[0019] The central portion or box 12 of the drain guard 10 is
generally cube shaped, formed by an inverted U-shape with an open
base. The top 14 of the box 12 is substantially a square panel with
four edges, a front and back edge and two side edges. In the
preferred embodiment, a square side panel 16 projects downwards
from each of the two side edges of the top 14 of the box 12. A
hollow wing 18 is rotatably attached to both the front and back
edges of the top panel 14. The wing 18, attached to the front edge
of the top panel 14, is attached via a row of perforations 26 so
that it can be easily detached during customization to a particular
channel structure. In a variation, both edges of the top 14 of the
box 12 to which a wing 18 is attached are perforated. Each wing
comprises an angled top 20 which slopes down and away from the top
panel 14 of the box 12 to the base at an angle below horizontal. A
substantially triangular flap 22 projects downwards and preferably
substantially vertically and at 90.degree. from the left and right
sides of the top panel 20 of the wing 18. A tang 24 projects from
the front or distal edge of each wing 18 such that, in the
preferred embodiment, the tang 24 lies horizontal and parallel to
the top 14 of the box 12. The bottom edges of the side panels 16 of
the box 12, the flaps 22 and the tang 24 all lie, before
customization, on the same horizontal plane. The back edge of the
top 20 of the wing 18 is attached to the top panel 14 of the box
12. The top panel 14 of the box 12, top panels 20 of the wing 18,
side panels 16 and flaps 22 are all perforated with a plurality of
holes 28. Preferably the perforations or holes 28 are circular and
between 5 mm and 15 mm in diameter. The optimal hole 28 size has
been found to be 9.53 mm (3/8''). The optimal hole 28 size is the
size most effective for blocking or filtering debris while
permitting maximal water flow through the drain guard 10. In
variations, other hole 28 diameters may be employed.
[0020] The tangs 24 at the end of each wing 18 are tapered, such
that the edge of the tang 24 abutting the edge of the wing 18 is
wider than the distal edge of the tang 24. This assists in
directing sludge in the gutter 30 moving to the sides of the drain
guard 10 rather than up and through the holes 28.
[0021] Conventional gutters 30 are typically flat bottomed and of
standard dimensions. The optimal drain guard 10 dimensions for use
in conventional gutters 30 are 343 mm (13.5'') long by 57.2 mm
(2.25'') wide by 57.2 mm (2.25'') high. The dimensions, as can be
appreciated by one skilled in the art, are dependent on the gutter
30 size, and accordingly the invention 10 can be scaled up or down
to suit different channel designs. In variations where the drain is
of a large size, for instance in industrial applications, the drain
guard 10 is of a size sufficient to cover the drain hole 34. The
present invention can be installed in a wide range of gutter 30
sizes as it is of lesser dimensions that then gutter 30 and is
placed over the drain hole 34 regardless of the location of the
side walls of the gutter 30.
[0022] The drain guard 10 design allows for debris to be swept from
the roof into the gutter rather than piling on the roof or falling
below, often onto paths, as with conventional drain guards. The
debris can then be removed from the gutters during maintenance. The
drain guard 10 is narrower than the gutter 30, thereby permitting
debris and sludge to pass along the sides of the guard 10 while not
blocking water flow. Debris moves up the sloped wings 18 and fall
to the sides of the guard 10, unlike known drain guards which are
of the same width as the gutter 30.
[0023] The drain guard is optimally comprised of 24 gauge stainless
steel, such that it is lightweight, and cheap and easy to
manufacture and install. Other materials such as plastic or other
substitutes may be used in variations, however.
[0024] In variations, the central portion 12 and wings 18 may be of
other shapes and contours, such as curved, parabolic, and
cylindrical. The sloping ramp structure of the wing 18 of the
preferred embodiment is optimal.
[0025] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the drain guard 10 with
dotted lines around the wing 18 and box 12 sections of the drain
guard 10.
[0026] Installation is straightforward and can be performed by home
owners or maintenance workers. Referring now to FIG. 3, a plan view
of the drain guard 10 installed in a conventional gutter 30 is
shown. During installation, the down pipe 32 placement in relation
to the gutter 30 must be evaluated by the installer. The drain
guard 10 can be customized to fit many variations of gutter 30 and
down pipe 32 design. Some examples of customization follow but are
not intended to be limiting. If the gutter 30 is continuous on each
side of the drain hole 34 at the mouth of the down pipe 32, the
full drain guard 10 unit is placed open side down in the gutter
30.
[0027] The drain guard 10 is held in place in the gutter 30 by its
own weight. With the wings 18 rotated inwards, the tangs 24 grip
the gutter 30. The plastic insert (not shown) typically installed
in the drain hole 34 also acts to secure the drain guard 10 as the
box 12 abuts the plastic insert (the sides of the box 12 can be
squeezed in for a snug fit against the insert). An adhesive may,
optionally, be placed on the underside of each tang 24, and the
bottom edges of the drain guard 10. The drain guard 10 in place
over the drain hole 34 without adhesive, however. The adhesive is
optimally caulking, but other adhesives may be used, or any bonding
agent suitable for the material of a particular drain guard 10 and
gutter 30.
[0028] If one side of the gutter 30 adjacent to the drain hole 34
is discontinuous, typically at the end of the gutter 30 where it is
capped by a vertical wall at the corner of a building, the
installer simply bends one wing 18 of the drain guard 10 back and
forth. The wing 18 naturally hinges at the perforated edge 26 of
the top panel 20, and the perforated joint quickly breaks due to
metal fatigue, without the use of tools. The drain guard 10 is then
installed, again optionally with adhesive on the open edges of the
box 12 abutting the end gutter wall (not shown), and underneath the
remaining tang 24 on the wing 18 projecting away from the gutter 30
wall. The box 12 is located over the drain hole 34. The second wing
18 is not required, in this case, as water and debris will only
approach the drain hole 34 from the continuous side of the gutter
30.
[0029] If the bottom of the gutter 30 is angled adjacent to the
drain hole 34, the drain guard 10 is bent slightly so that its
underside is contiguous with the gutter 30.
[0030] It is often the case that the gutter 30 bottom is raised
immediately adjacent to the drain hole 34, either with caulking or
a plastic insert. Conventional drain guards do not address this
issue, leaving a gap through which debris can enter the downpipe
32. The present invention, however, is easily installed by bending
the flaps 22 of each wing 18 slightly towards the middle or center
line of the drain guard 10 so that they can pass by the sides 16 of
the box 12. Both wings 18 are then rotated about the joint with the
top 14 of the box 12 and inward, so that the flaps 22 slightly
overlap the sides 16 of the box 12. The box 12 is thereby slightly
raised in relation to the wings 18, and seats against the raised
portion of the gutter 30 floor with the bottom of the wings 18
substantially flush with the gutter 30 floor as well. In this
manner, the drain guard is customized for the particular gutter 30
design and effectively blocks debris.
[0031] The drain guard 10 easily slides under the transverse gutter
30 supports or brackets (not shown) commonly used to retain the
gutter 30 against the building. It is significant that the box 12
is always located immediately above the drain hole 34. As the top
14 of the box 12 is the highest point of the drain guard 10, it
performs most effectively by tenting debris with an apex over the
drain hole 34, thereby maximizing water flow from the gutter 30
into the drain hole 34.
[0032] Furthermore, the flexible nature of the drain guard 10
permits the installer to bend the drain guard 10 to conform to
particular characteristics of the gutter 30 or channel. The sides
16 and flaps 22 may be bent to any angle in relation to the top of
the drain guard 10, from 0.degree. to 135.degree., and from
straight to convex or concave.
[0033] In use, the holes 28 in the drain guard 10 are sized to
permit the passage of a small amount of grit, dirt and debris such
as decayed leaves to pass with water through the guard and down the
down pipe 32. Larger size debris such as leaves, twigs, soil and
moss cannot pass through the holes 28. Additionally, the
combination of the central box 12 with the sloped wings 18 allows
substantial debris to tent up over the gradually sloped drain guard
10 with little effect to the water flow through the drain guard 10.
The top surface 20 of each wing 18 also comprises a central area
which is solid (without perforations or holes 28). The solid area
acts as a guide for dirt and debris. As debris accumulates at the
base of the drain guard 10 and begins sliding up the wing 18, the
lower holes 28 may be partially obscured. When the debris reaches
the solid section of the top surface 20 of the wing 18, it is
channeled sideways or laterally and falls off the wing 18 in to the
gutter 30. In this manner, the holes 28 on the upper portion of the
top surface 20 of the wing 18 is maintained free of debris.
Conventional drain guards, while attempting to filter, do not have
such an optimal shape. The drain guard 10 is quickly and easily
modified in the field to fit a wide range of gutter 30 and down
pipe 32 configurations. Continual maintenance, is however,
recommended.
[0034] The drain guard 10 is also advantageously designed for
manufacture. Referring now to FIG. 4, the drain guard 10 is shown
during manufacture before assembly. The guard 10 is comprised of a
single piece of metal, and can be machine stamped or even cut by
hand with tin snips. The holes 28 and perforations 26 are also
stamped into the single horizontal sheet of metal. Once stamped, as
shown in FIG. 4, the sides 16 of the box 12 and the flaps 22 of the
wings 18 are bent, optimally at 90.degree. below horizontal. The
leading or front edges of the top 20 of the wings 18 are bent such
that tangs 24 are formed which are coplanar to the top 14 of the
box 12. This single piece construction can be quickly and
economically produced.
[0035] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of
the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are
possible in the practice of this invention without departing from
the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *