Patent ID: 6219972
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: E04D,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparat us for use in preventing blockage of a water flow path from a gutter of a building through a downspout, said apparatus comprising a receptacle adapted to be at least partially disposed beneath the gutter and adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the downspout, and a support connected with the receptacle, said receptacle being movable relative to said support from a collecting orientation to an emptying orientation under the influence of a weight of water and debris conducted from the gutter to said receptacle when said receptacle is in the collecting orientation, said receptacle having a wall portion through which water passes prior to collection of debris in said receptacle and which becomes at least partially blocked with debris conducted from the gutter to enable said receptacle to accumulate a quantity of water and debris sufficient to effect movement of said receptacle from the collecting orientation to the emptying orientation, said receptacle includes a plurality of compartments, a first one of said compartments receives a flow of water and debris from the gutter and has an outlet which is at least partially formed by said wall portion and through which water flows until the outlet is blocked by debris, a second one of said compartments receives water from said first one of said compartments when the flow of water through said outlet is at least partially blocked by debris collected in said first compartment.