Water diverting silicone rubber universal fit downspout extension

A gutter downspout extension, extruded from a medium to high density silicone rubber material for diverting water from a foundation of a structure. The silicone rubber material has a sufficient density to resist abrasion or cutting by filament line weed trimmers. The silicone rubber material has sufficient elasticity to allow the end of the downspout extension to be stretched over the end of a gutter downspout.

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to lawn accessories extruded from a dense silicone rubber. More particularly, the invention relates to an extension for a gutter downspout for diverting the flow of rainwater away from a building's foundation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Gutters have long been used to divert the flow of water, such as rain water or snow melt, off of the roof of a structure. Typically, gutters direct the flow of water to one or more downspouts, which themselves direct the flow of water away from the base of the building. Generally, the downspout directs the flow of water towards a splash block or other means of channeling the flow of water away from the base of the building. Often it is desirable to direct the flow of water farther from the base of the building. To this end, various extensions have been developed in the art. For instance, U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2011/0173897, published on Jul. 21, 2011, for Schneider, entitled Apparatus and Method for Protecting a Downspout of a Gutter, discloses a cover, made from a flexible/elastic material, for protecting the end of a gutter downspout. Additionally, U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2012/0125465, published on May 24, 2012, for Bell et al. discloses a low-profile, water diverting, downspout extension. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,837, issued to Smith on Apr. 8, 2014, and initially published on Dec. 10, 2009, discloses a flexible downspout extension. Many of the existing downspout extensions are produced from a complex molding process to produce a bellows-type profile that allows for bending and provides some structural rigidity. And, this bellows configuration produces a series of alternating internal ribs and channels that can trap debris, impeding the flow of water there thru, and allow water to freeze in these channels. Further, many are produced from plastic materials that are susceptible to being broken or cut by impact with lawn care equipment, for example these materials are susceptible to being cut by typical filament line weed-trimming equipment. Further, these materials are susceptible to becoming brittle upon exposure to sub-freezing temperatures creating an appreciable risk of shattering if the extension is stepped on or driven over by a piece of equipment or other type of vehicle.

What is missing in the art is a gutter downspout extension that is made of a dense silicone rubber material that resists being cut by filament line weed trimmers, that is resistant to becoming brittle in sub-freezing temperatures, and that can be simply extruded into a desired shape.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The gutter downspout extension is, in one exemplary embodiment, substantially tubular in cross-section. In an exemplary embodiment, the downspout extension has a substantially oval cross-section. It is, in an exemplary embodiment, constructed of an extruded silicone rubber material having sufficient density to maintain a tubular shape. Further, the silicone rubber material has a sufficient density to resist abrasion or cutting by filament line weed trimmers. Further, the silicone rubber material has sufficient elasticity to allow the end of the downspout extension to be stretched over the end of a gutter downspout. Those skilled in the art will recognize that gutter downspouts come in a variety of sizes. This resiliency allows the downspout extension to be stretched so that a single size of downspout extension can fit various sizes of downspout extensions. Further, while this elasticity allows the downspout extension to be partially secured to the downspout extension by a tight frictional fit, in an exemplary embodiment, a screw, such as a self-tapping screw, can be utilized to provide for an additional level of securement of the downspout extension to the gutter downspout. Other exemplary embodiments include downspout extensions that have formed ends adapted to receive the end of a gutter downspout and which are sized for commonly known gutter downspouts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate typical bellows construction downspout extensions as are known in the art. The bellows construction of the prior art downspouts can trap debris and can retain water that is subject to freezing. Further, many of the prior art devices are subject to being broken from impacts with lawn-care equipment and are further subject to becoming brittle and shattering in sub-freezing temperatures. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a gutter downspout, such as gutter downspout15, illustrated inFIG. 3, is typically secured to an exterior wall of a building18for diverting rainwater, snow melt, etc. away from the base of building18. However, it is often desirable and/or necessary to extend the gutter downspout in order to divert the flow of water farther from building18.FIGS. 3, 4, and 5illustrate a gutter downspout extension10formed by extruding a medium to high density silicone rubber material. Downspout extension10has a tubular body40of a length selected to divert rainwater a desired distance from the base of building18. The tubular body40of downspout extension10is constructed of a silicone rubber material having a density selected to maintain a substantially tubular cross-sectional shape. Further, the silicone rubber material is adapted to resist being cut by state-of-the-art lawn trimmers and it also resists becoming brittle in sub-freezing temperatures. In an exemplary embodiment the tubular body40of downspout extension10has a first end20adapted to receive a terminal end of a gutter downspout.

The gutter downspout extension10is, in an exemplary embodiment, substantially tubular in cross-section. In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 4, downspout extension10has a substantially oval configuration. Downspout extension10is, in an exemplary embodiment, constructed of an extruded silicone rubber material having sufficient density to maintain its substantially oval, tubular shape as illustrated inFIG. 4. Further, the silicone rubber material has a sufficient density to resist abrasion or cutting by filament line weed trimmers. While, in an exemplary embodiment, the silicone rubber material is sufficiently dense to resist abrasion or cutting, the silicone rubber material must also retain sufficient elasticity to allow the end20of the downspout extension10to be stretched over the end of a gutter downspout15. Further, while this elasticity allows the downspout extension10to be partially secured to the downspout extension15by a tight frictional fit, in an exemplary embodiment, a screw25, such as a self-tapping screw, can be utilized to provide for an additional level of securement of the downspout extension10to the gutter downspout15. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art screw25could be screwed directly through the silicone rubber material, or a hole adapted to receive screw25could be pre-formed in the end20of downspout extension10. As illustrated inFIG. 6, if desired, a coupling35could be provided for joining two lengths of downspout extension10.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that gutter downspouts, such as downspout15, come in a variety of sizes. For instance, those skilled in the art will recognize that residential downspouts are typically approximately 4″ wide, while industrial downspouts are commonly 6″ wide. In an exemplary embodiment, downspout extension10has an oval cross-section of approximately 4.5″ by approximately 2.45″, which allows the resilient silicone rubber material to be stretched to fit either a 4″ or 6″ downspout elbow. Alternatively, in a further exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 7, a gutter downspout extension100could have an end120formed into substantially rectangular shape adapted to receive the gutter downspout15. In this regard, the end120of downspout extension100could be selectively sized to be received by a chosen gutter downspout. For instance, for residential applications, the end120of downspout extension100could be sized to be received by an approximately 4″ gutter downspout. Further, in industrial applications, the end120of downspout extension100could be sized to be received by an approximately 6″ gutter downspout.

In still a further exemplary embodiment, illustrated inFIG. 8, downspout extension200is adapted with a plurality of gutter downspout receptacles adapted to receive different sized gutter downspouts. In this regard, as mentioned above, residential downspouts are typically approximately 4″ wide, while industrial downspouts are commonly 6″ wide. In this exemplary embodiment, the distal end220is adapted to receive, in a tight frictional fit, as described above, a larger, industrial gutter downspout. A secondary, intermediate sized region210is formed that is adapted to receive a smaller residential gutter downspout. While 4″ and 6″ gutter downspouts have been described herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that other sizes of gutter downspouts are used, or may, in the future, come to be commonly used. In this exemplary embodiment, distal end220could be adapted to receive a large gutter downspout and intermediate sized region210could be adapted to receive a smaller gutter downspout. In use, in conjunction with a smaller downspout, distal end220could be left on the downspout extension200, or could be trimmed off.

While the applicant herein makes no claim to the specific color of downspout extensions described herein, such as downspout extension10, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that downspout extension10can be extruded in a number of different colors to blend into its surroundings. For instance, a downspout extension10that will cross a lawn could be extruded in a green color, while a downspout extension10that will traverse a mulched area of landscaping could be extruded in a brown color; as still a further example, the downspout extension10could be extruded in a black or dark gray color for diverting rainwater across an asphalt driveway or parking lot.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the smooth interior30of the downspout extension10will not create a risk of trapping flow-inhibiting debris. Further, the silicone rubber material resists scuffing, abrasion, or cutting by filament line weed trimmers, is not susceptible to being crushed by foot or wheeled traffic, and is not susceptible to becoming brittle and shattering in sub-freezing temperatures.