Abstract:
The present invention is a rain water downspout for shooting water away from a building. It includes a vertical downspout column for receiving and holding rainwater. The downspout column has an outlet at its lower end. A buoyant column inside the downspout column rests on the bottom of the downspout column and blocks the downspout column outlet until the downspout column fills with enough water to cause the buoyant column to float. A nozzle is attached to the downspout outlet. The nozzle can be oriented to shoot a stream of water away from the building. When the buoyant column inside the downspout rises, water flows out of the downspout column under pressure and shoots out from the nozzle away from the building.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/210,591 filed Jun. 8, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a system for projecting a flow of rain water away from a building. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Buildings often include an eaves trough system to collect rain water from the roof and direct the water down a plurality of downspouts. The downspouts are normally located along the walls of a dwelling and have downspout elbows at their bases. The downspout elbows at the lower end of downspouts are meant to direct water away from the foundation of the building. 
     The primary purpose of an eaves trough system is to protect the perimeter foundation of the building from water damage. Therefore, it is important that the water drained from the roof of the building be directed to a location that is a sufficient distance from the base of the foundation. 
     Various forms of horizontal extensions for conveying rain water away from a building foundation are available. These extensions generally consist of a pipe or a large plastic column that is attached to and stretched out from the downspout. These systems are low pressure systems or gravity systems, whereby no substantial pressure head is generated in the system. They are merely used to distribute water in a small area immediately surrounding the extension portion. 
     Examples to these low pressure systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,814,529 and 3,966,121. These devices disclose low pressure downspout extensions with a plurality of holes located in the tubing to permit water to be distributed in the immediate area. 
     A downspout distributor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,121. This distributor is designed to minimize the discharge water pressure and distribute the water in a manner which eliminates water erosion in the lawn near the outlet of a downspout. This system uses small apertures located on the downspout to spray the immediate surrounding area. In addition, this system uses hose coupling openings at the sides of the downspout elbow. These are used to attach soaker hoses for light distribution of the rain water. This type of system is unsatisfactory because it is designed to work at slight pressure. 
     These prior art systems are all based on low pressure distribution of rain water run-off from a roof of a dwelling or similar structure. These prior art systems would not be capable of shooting rain water any significant distance from a building. 
     A high pressure discharging system is described by Roles in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,775. Roles discloses a vertical downspout having a small diameter discharge outlet at its lower end. The downspout accumulates a head of water so that the water that is discharged from a downspout outlet is discharged at a high pressure. In the Roles system the downspout outlet is small in diameter so that water can accumulate in the down spout to create hydrostatic pressure. 
     None of these prior art systems provide a system that will consistently discharge water at a high pressure so that water can be projected over a significant distance. Further, none of these prior art systems provide a system that will consistently discharge water at a high pressure and that will clear debris from the system. The invention downspout provides a means for projecting water away from a building by a significant distance. The invention downspout system operates intermittently. When the invention downspout system is discharging water, water is discharged at a high velocity and can be projected a significant distance away from a building. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a rain water downspout for shooting water away from a building. It includes a vertical downspout column for receiving and holding rainwater. The downspout column has an outlet at its lower end. A buoyant column inside the downspout column rests on the bottom of the downspout column and blocks the downspout column outlet until the downspout column fills with enough water to cause the buoyant column to float. A nozzle is attached to the downspout outlet. The nozzle includes a valve that allows water to pass through the nozzle at a pressure. The nozzle can be oriented to shoot a stream of water away from the building. When the buoyant column inside the downspout rises, water flows out of the downspout column under pressure and opens the valve in the nozzle. The water then passes though the nozzle and shoots away from the building. When the buoyant column descends and blocks the downspout column outlet, pressure in the nozzle falls and the valve in the nozzle closes to shut off the flow of water from the nozzle. A spring may be added to the upper end of the downspout column for engaging the buoyant column and forcing it back down the bottom of the downspout column. The nozzle may be fashioned from a flexible material and may have internal structures that only open under pressure. The nozzle may also have a bent shape that only straightens under sufficient pressure. The nozzle may also have an expanding portion that can fill with water and then expel water with even greater force to clear debris from the system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention and its many attendant objects and advantages will become better understood upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of high pressure downspout with nozzle  62  in a non-pressurized condition. 
     FIG. 1A is a plan view of high pressure downspout with nozzle  62  in a pressurized condition. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the nozzle of the high pressure downspout taken from plane  2 — 2  indicated in FIG.  1 A. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the nozzle of the high pressure downspout taken from plane  3 — 3  indicated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a close up side view of the nozzle of the high pressure downspout taken from plane  4 — 4  indicated in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a high pressure downspout  10  comprising a vertical downspout column  12 , buoyant column  32  and a nozzle  62 . Downspout column  12  is fed by a rain gutter  5  and further includes an inlet  14 , a thrust spring  16 , an outlet opening  18  and a discharge elbow  26 . Buoyant column  32  includes a cap  34 , a stopper  39  and a low freezing point aqueous solution  42  filled to an aqueous solution level  43 . Stopper  39  is adapted to block outlet opening  18  by seating in stopper seat  22 . Stopper  39  is compressed into an oblate spheroid shape and has a flange  44  extending past the edge of buoyant column  32 . Nozzle  62  is fixed to discharge elbow  26 . In FIG. 1, nozzle  62  is shown in a non-pressurized position and in a pressurized position in FIG.  1 A. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of nozzle  62  taken from plane  2 — 2  indicated in FIG. 1 showing nozzle  62  in a pressurized condition. Nozzle  62  is fashioned from an elastic, flexible material such as rubber. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of nozzle  62  taken from plane  3 - 3  indicated in FIG. 1 showing nozzle  62  in a non-pressurized condition. Nozzle  62  includes a primary valve  78  that is closed when nozzle  62  is in a non-pressurized condition of position  64 . Nozzle  62  also has a secondary valve  79  which is illustrated in detail in FIG.  2  and FIG.  3 . 
     The level of aqueous solution  42  in buoyant column  32  can be adjusted to change the characteristics of the system. By placing more solution in buoyant column  32 , buoyant column  32  will become heavier and therefore cause downspout column  12  to accumulate more water before it is discharged. Conversely, by having less aqueous solution  42  in buoyant column  32 , buoyant column  32  will become lighter and therefore will allow downspout column  12  to accumulate less water before discharging. Although, in the preferred embodiment buoyant column  32  contains an aqueous solution, buoyant column  32  may be mostly hollow but weighted to have the same buoyancy as a column partially filled with an aqueous solution. 
     One problem that is encountered in the use of this system is the accumulation of undischarged water in downspout column  12 . Such undischarged water can freeze and cause damage downspout column  12 . To combat this problem, buoyant column  32  can be replaced with a column like float whose cross section has flexible walls. The best cross section shape for a buoyant column  32  having flexible walls is an equilateral triangle. When retained water in downspout column  12  freezes, the three flexible walls of a triangular walled buoyant column  32  will deflect to prevent damage to downspout column  12 . Of course, even downspout column  12  can be replaced by a conduit having any one of a number of cross section shapes that would have flexible walls capable of elastically yielding to the force of freezing water. Such changes in cross section shape would not change the way in which the invention downspout functions. 
     Nozzle  62  is an important component of the system because it regulates the pressure at which water is ejected from the system. The function of nozzle  62  is to open and eject water when the water in downspout column  12  reaches a desired pressure. If water is only ejected above a predetermined pressure, then a stream of water leaving nozzle  62  can be directed to a point beyond a predetermined distance away from the building. The preferred embodiment employs a flexible nozzle that extends and opens under pressure as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG.  3  and FIG.  4 . However, nozzle  62  as shown in those figures may be replaced by any structure that includes a valve that opens above a predetermined pressure and an outlet that is designed to direct water in a stream having a velocity and a direction. 
     In FIG. 2, FIG.  3  and FIG. 4, nozzle  62  is shown to include a first wall  70  and a second wall  72 . Nozzle  62  has two positions: the non-pressurized position shown in FIG. 1, and the pressurized position shown in FIG.  1 A. When in the non-pressurized position, very little back pressure is present in the system. As pressure is increased, flexible nozzle  62 , extends into the pressurized position shown in FIG.  1 A. Along the length of nozzle  62 , is a second flexible structure that responds to changes in pressure. As can be seen in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, nozzle  62  includes second wall  72 , made from a flexible, elastic material, that usually adheres to first wall  70  in a closed position. Second wall  72  is bonded to first wall  70  at bond joints  92  and  94 . When sufficient pressure exists in the water  50  in nozzle  62 , second wall  72  is forced away from first wall  70  to define an opening through which water  50  may pass. When the pressure of water  50  in nozzle  62  falls below the sufficient pressure, second wall  72  will return to its resting position in continuous contact with first wall  70 . Accordingly, nozzle  62  responds to increasing pressure by opening as it straightens. 
     Nozzle  62  may be fashioned to assume any one of a number of decorative shapes. Whimsical shapes can be selected such as an animal head. For example, nozzle  62  can be shaped and decorated in the likeness of a cobra snake head. Nozzle  62  can be made to be adjustable so that it can be pointed in any direction over a range of angles of elevation. 
     Thrust spring  16  positioned at the top of downspout column  12  provides an upper bound for the movement of buoyant column  32  and also provides a way to significantly increase the pressure of the system for a short period of time. Because buoyant column  32  has inertia, it accelerates as it is acted upon by the buoyant force water  50  until cap  34  strikes thrust spring  16 . When cap  34  strikes spring  16 , it suddenly reverses direction and exerts a momentary force upon the water column below stopper  39 . This increases the pressure of water in nozzle  62 . Such a momentary increase in pressure is useful because debris can enter a downspout and obstruct the passage of water. A momentary increase in pressure can cause small debris to be forced out of nozzle  62 . Large debris may permanently obstruct the system, so it is preferred that the system of collecting troughs that feed downspout  10  be designed to exclude debris that would be large enough to obstruct nozzle  62 . Thrust spring  16  may be replaced by any resilient element that would absorb energy from buoyant column  32  and react by applying a downward force upon buoyant column  32 . 
     Downspout  10  operates in cycles. Rainwater from rain gutter  5  enters downspout  12  through inlet  14 . Stopper  39  of buoyant column  32  is firmly seated against stopper seat  22  by the weight of buoyant column  32 . After water rises above flange  44  of stopper  39 , buoyant column  32  begins to be acted upon by an increasing upward buoyant force as the water level in downspout  12  rises. Although water in downspout column  12  exerts pressure on the upper surfaces of stopper flange  44 , water begins to seep around stopper  39  as the water in downspout column  12  rises allowing the pressure in nozzle  62  and elbow  26  to partially equalize with the pressure of the water in downspout column  12 . Once the level of water  50  in downspout column  12  rises past aqueous solution level  43  of buoyant column  32 , the upward buoyant force acting upon buoyant column  32  increases as water continues to leak around stopper  39  to continuing pressurizing the water in elbow  26  and nozzle  62 . Eventually, the buoyant force acting on buoyant column  32  causes buoyant column  32  to rise as stopper  39  disengages from stopper seat  22 . This allows the water in nozzle  62  and elbow  26  to reach full pressure. In response to these upward buoyant forces in the sudden absence of downward hydrostatic forces that had been pushing down upon stopper flange  44 , buoyant column  32  accelerates up and bounces off of spring  16 . As buoyant column  32  is thrusting toward spring  16  the hydrostatic pressure in nozzle  62  increases towards a maximum level. This causes nozzle  62  to extend into the open position shown in FIG. 1A opening primary valve  78  and then secondary valve  79 . As water is discharging from nozzle  62 , buoyant column  32  bounces off of spring  16  and moves downwardly applying pressure to the water column in downspout column  12  directly above elbow  26 . This causes water under buoyant column  32  to reach a relatively high pressure for only a very short period of time. During this very short period of time when water under buoyant column  32  is at a relatively high pressure, nozzle  62  expands rapidly and then rapidly contracts as the pressure in the system under buoyant column  32  falls. This high pressure coupled with nozzle expansion dislodges any small debris that may be obstructing the nozzle. When enough water has been exhausted from downspout  10 , buoyant column  32  will reseal at the bottom of downspout column  12  to begin another cycle. With a decrease in hydrostatic pressure in nozzle  62 , secondary valve  79  closes and primary valve  78  closes as the nozzle returns to the position shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Because the invention downspout discharges water at a high velocity, the invention downspout clears debris from its system. Because water is discharged at a relatively constant velocity and pressure, a stream of water  88  as shown in FIG. 1 can be aimed to strike a relatively small area at a distance away from the foundation of the building. 
     High pressure downspout  10  may be reconfigured by replacing nozzle  62  with a simple nozzle that is normally open. Such an alternate downspout design will tend to discharge water very slowly and with little force when small amounts of water are entering downspout column  12 . However, the constantly open nozzle configuration will forcefully discharge large volumes of water a significant distance when large volumes of water are entering downspout column  12  so that the desired result of conveying rain water away from a structure is achieved when it is most needed. The advantage of a pressure activated valve design is that water is always ejected forcefully at all flow rates. The energy of this water stream is not only useful for conveying water but is also useful for such purposes as forcing water through filtration systems so that collected water may be purified. 
     The invention has been described above in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of at least one of its embodiments. However, such a detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted. The skilled reader, in view of this specification may envision numerous modifications and variations of the above disclosed preferred embodiment. Accordingly, the reader should understand that these modifications and variations, and the equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the following claims, wherein: