Patent Abstract:
A device for separating water from debris and collecting rain water includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes an inlet and a structure for separating water from debris with surface tension and surface area. The lower portion is removably mounted to the upper portion and includes a first outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to a downspout and a second outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to a container for holding collected rain water. A rain water collection system including the device is also provided, as well as a method of using the device.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/955,126, filed Aug. 10, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to water conservation and reclamation and more particularly to a system and method for reclaiming and recovering rain water. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Water is a precious resource that must be conserved. In some parts of the country water has always been scarce, needing to be obtained from hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. In other parts of the country, water has been plentiful. However, with mounting pressure from droughts, irrigation, and population growth, there have been reports of ground water levels dropping and rivers drying up. 
         [0004]    One solution to address water shortage is to collect rain water from roof into rain barrels or cisterns. Collected water can be used for watering yards and gardens. In addition, when outfitted with filters or other water purification devices, the water can also be used for consumption. 
         [0005]    Previous rain water collection systems included ones that directly connected a downspout to a barrel. However, once the barrel is full, water flows out from the barrel, which can cause problems with flooding the area surrounding the barrel and even the building to which the downspout is attached. This problem can also occur where a rain water collection system includes a diverter, which is a device that attaches to a downspout and diverts water to a barrel or other water collection container. 
         [0006]    Additional problems associated with previous rain water collection systems include the collected water containing debris such as leaves and berries. There can also be issues with the rain barrel not being properly secured to a building to which a downspout feeding the rain barrel in attached. Winter maintenance, especially in climates with freezing temperatures, can be a problem for rain water collection systems. Some rain water collection systems are difficult to assemble. Rain water collection systems can also suffer from low flow rates of collected water flowing out of the rain barrel or other collection device. Where the rain water collection systems are not closed systems, bugs, such as mosquitoes are attracted to the water, lay their eggs in the water, and once hatched, carry disease and irritation to nearby humans. Rain water collection systems employing clear plastic can also suffer from algae growth. 
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a rain water collection diverter and system that address at least some of the problems listed above. In addition, methods of making and using rain water collection diverters and systems that address at least some of the problems listed above are desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention, which is defined by the claims set out at the end of this disclosure, is intended to solve at least some of the problems noted above. A device for separating water from debris and collecting rain water is provided. The device includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes an inlet and a structure for separating water from debris with surface tension and surface area. The lower portion is removably mounted to the upper portion and includes a first outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to a downspout and a second outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to a container for holding collected rain water. 
         [0009]    A rain water collection system including the device is also provided. The system includes the device described above and a conduit that is configured to be fluidically coupled to the second outlet of the device, a first seal, and an adaptor having a first end that is configured to be coupled to the conduit and a second end that is configured to be connected to the first seal. The system also includes a second seal and a high flow spigot that is configured to be fluidically coupled to the second outlet and that is configured to be directly or indirectly coupled to the second seal. The system can be used with a container for storing and dispensing collected rain water. 
         [0010]    A method of using the device is also provided. In the method rain water is collected from a downspout and into a diverter including an inlet and a first outlet. The rain water includes debris. The amount of debris in the rain water exiting the first outlet is reduced with surface tension and surface area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a rain water collection system including a diverter made in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an upper portion of the diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a lower portion of the diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross section view of the upper and lower portions of the diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a front view of an adaptor that can be used with the diverter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a partial top view of a conduit, an adaptor, a barrel seal, and a barrel of the rain water collection system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is an adaptor, a barrel seal, and a barrel of the rain water collection system of  FIG. 1  of the rain water collection system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
       [0025]    Before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Construction and Operation of Embodiments of the Invention 
       [0026]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , in at least one embodiment, a diverter  10  is fluidically coupled to a container  11  for holding collected rain water that is diverted to it from a downspout  17 . Referring now to  FIGS. 2-7 , an embodiment of a diverter  10  includes a housing  16  and a door  12 , an upper portion  14  of the housing  16 , and a lower portion  18  of the housing  16 . In one embodiment, the door  12  and the housing  16  are made from a corn-based plastic such as polylactic acid (PLA). In an embodiment, the door  12  and the housing  16  are made from a mixture of 49% PLA, 49% acrylic, and 2% color additives by weight. Mixing materials raises the heat deflection temperature of the PLA, to withstand high temperatures. The acrylic improves the surface finish, UV resistance, and strength of the final product. Additional materials can be used instead of, or in addition to the acrylic, such as polycarbonate,) and 2% color additives. The acrylic can be substituted with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and other suitable materials. Other materials can also be used to make the door  12  and housing  16 . The door  12  and housing  16  can be molded, such as by injection molding, or fabricated using other methods, including, but not limited to, thermal vacuum form, rotational molding, and casting. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the upper portion  14  of the housing  16  fits inside the lower portion  18  of the housing  16 . In another embodiment, the lower portion  18  of the housing  16  fits inside the upper portion  14  of the housing  16 . A gasket or the like (not shown) can be used to ensure a fluid tight seal between the upper and lower portions  14 ,  18 . Holes  40   a  of the upper portion  14  of the housing  16  and holes  40   b  of the lower portion  18  of the housing  16  align to allow the two parts to be fastened together. However, the upper portion  14  and the lower portion  18  can be connected in other ways, such as with a snap fit, glue, or any other attachment method. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, ribs (not shown) are disposed on the inner sides of the upper portion  14  of the housing  16  to strengthen the walls of the upper portion  14  and provide additional material for two fasteners (not shown) to extend into from the lower portion  18  of the housing  16 . The ribs also add more material for the threads of screws to engage where screws are used to connect the upper portion  14  of the housing  16  to the lower portion  18 . 
         [0029]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the door  12  is moveable with respect to the upper portion  14 . In one embodiment, the door  12  slides up and down within two tracks  20  molded into the upper portion  14  of the housing  16 . The door  12  can include a tab  22  at the top or other structure for raising the door  12  to permit access to the interior of the diverter  10  to facilitate removal of leaves, twigs, or other debris. In another embodiment, the door  12  is coupled to the upper portion  14  by another mechanism, such as a hinge or other mechanisms known in the art. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the upper portion  14  of the housing  16  includes a collar  24  at the top of the housing  16 . In at least one embodiment, the collar is slightly smaller than 2 inches deep and 3 inches wide such that a 2″ by 3″ downspout  17  ( FIG. 16 ), such as a downspout  17 , can slide and rest. Holes  28  on sides of the collar  24  can be used to secure the diverter  10  to the downspout  17 . The diverter  10  can also be secured to the downspout  17  with other fasteners, such as with a clamp, rivets or any other fastener known in the art. 
         [0031]    Where the downspout  17  is a different size than the collar  24 , an adapter  33  ( FIG. 9 ) can be used to connect the downspout  17  to the diverter  10 . For example, a 3″ by 4″ downspout  17  can be connected to a collar  24  designed to accept a 2″ by 3″ downspout  17  with an adaptor  33 . In at least one embodiment, the adaptor is made from two pieces of aluminum downspout material  3 ,  5  that are fastened together, such as with fasteners, glue, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, screws  27  are used to connect the two pieces  3 ,  5 . For a 3″ by 4″ downspout  17 , the first piece  3  of downspout material is an approximate rectangle measuring 3″ deep by 4″ wide at one end. The bottom of the first piece  3  is crimped at each of its four corners to reduce the depth to slightly more than 2″ and the width to approximately 3½″. The second piece  5  of downspout material the aluminum is also an approximate rectangle measuring slightly more than 2″ deep and 3½″ wide at the top end. The bottom of the second piece  5  has angled corners such that its measurement is 2″ deep by 3″ wide at the base. The first piece  3  of downspout material&#39;s smaller dimension slides inside the larger dimension of the second piece  5  of downspout material. The two pieces  3 ,  5  are attached to one another such as with a screw  27  on each side. The smaller end of the adaptor  33  is seated inside the collar  24  of the diverter  10 . The 3″ by 4″ downspout supplying the diverter  10  with rainwater is crimped to slide inside the larger end of the adaptor  33 . 
         [0032]    The diverter  10  uses surface tension and surface area to separate rain water from debris. In one embodiment, this is accomplished with walls and edges on the walls. As best seen in  FIG. 6 , in an exemplary embodiment, the interior of the upper portion  14  of the housing  16  includes a structure  38  for separating water from debris with surface tension and surface area. The structure  38  includes front wall  32   b,  side walls  32   a,    32   c,  and the back  33  of the upper portion  14  of the housing  16 . Front wall  32   b  and side walls  32   a,    32   c  wick water down and toward the back  33  of the upper portion  14  by using water surface tension and the angles of the walls  32   a,    32   b,  and  32   c  and their respective lower edges  35   a,    35   b,  and  35   c.    
         [0033]    Still referring to  FIG. 6 , the front wall  32   b  extends downwardly from a top wall  31  of the upper portion  14 . The lower edge  35   b  of the front wall  32   b  has a V-shape or a truncated V-shape, the vertex  29  of which is adjacent the top wall  31 . In one embodiment, the angle α between one side of the lower edge  35   b  and the other side of lower edge  35   b  is about 115°. In another embodiment, the angle α is between about 20° and about 160°. The side walls  32   a,    32   c  extend from the front wall  32   b  to the back  34   a  of the upper portion  14 . The bottom edges  35   a,    35   c  of the side walls  32   a,    32   c  extend from the lowest portion of the V downwardly to meet the back wall  33 . In one embodiment, the angle between the backwall  33  and the bottom edge  35   a  ( 35   a ) of the sidewall  32   a  ( 35   a ) is about 30°. It should be noted that other angles can also be used, such as between about 10° and about 85°. Water runs down the inside surface of the walls  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  and accumulates at the bottom edges  35   a,    35   b,    35   c,  i.e., the drip edges, of these walls, as is explained below. 
         [0034]    Water drains down the downspout and through an inlet  30  in the upper portion  14  that in one embodiment is nearly as large as that of the downspout. As is shown in  FIG. 4 , below the collar  24  of the upper portion  14  is a C-shaped ledge  26  with rounded, inner edges. Water coming down the front and sides of the downspout hits the ledge  26  having curved, inner edges. From the ledge  26 , water is directed over the curved, inner edges of the ledge  26 . As is indicated by the arrows shown in  FIG. 7 , water in the front then runs down the front wall  32   b  to its bottom edge  35   b  and is directed along the bottom edge  35   b  to the bottom edges  35   a,    35   c  of the side walls  32   a,    32   c  and then down the back wall  33  of the upper portion  14 . Water coming along a side of the diverter  10  goes down a side wall  32   a,    32   c  to the bottom edge  35   a,    35   c  and then down the back wall  33  of the upper portion  14 . Water flowing along the back of the diverter  10  flows down the back wall  33 . From the back wall  33 , water goes to the lower portion  18  of the diverter  10 , initially to the area between a back wall  39  of the lower portion  18  and a backside  43  of an upper extension  45  of a downspout outlet  42  ( FIG. 7 ). When the upper portion  14  and the lower portion  18  as assembled, the downspout outlet  42  is generally aligned with the inlet  30  of the upper portion  14  such that there is a longitudinal passageway between the downspout outlet  42  and the inlet  30 . The inner diameter of the downspout outlet  42  is dimensioned to be smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet  30  of the upper portion  14  such that water traveling down the walls  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  generally falls outside of the downspout outlet  42  and into an interior of the lower portion  18 . 
         [0035]    The diverter  10  is designed to take advantage of surface tension and surface area. Rain water wants to travel along the inner surfaces of the back  34   a  of the upper portion  14  and the walls  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  and then drip into the lower portion  18  of the housing  16  from the bottom edges  35   a,    35   b,    35   c.  Surface tension and surface area helps separate debris from the water. Debris does not travel or have a tendency to travel along these surfaces and instead goes down through the downspout outlet  42  in the lower portion  18 , into the downspout, and out the downspout.  FIG. 4  shows a path that water can travel through the inlet  30  in the upper portion  14  of the housing  16 . 
         [0036]    As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in one embodiment, the back  34   a  of the upper portion  14  of the housing  16  and the back  34   b  of the lower portion  18  of the housing  16  are flattened in order to rest more directly on a wall along which the downspout runs. Protrusions  36  can be included on the upper portion  14  of the housing  16 . Where protrusions  36  are used, fasteners fit into holes  37  in the protrusions  36  and can be used to attach the diverter  10  directly to an exterior wall along which the downspout runs for additional stability. 
         [0037]    As best seen in  FIG. 7 , the lower portion  18  of the housing  16  includes the downspout outlet  42 , which is slightly smaller than a 2″ by 3″ downspout. The downspout outlet  42  extends up into the lower portion  18  by a predefined height to form an upper extension  45  such that the water level in the lower portion  18  must reach the predefined height before the top of the downspout outlet  42  is reached. 
         [0038]    Referring back to  FIG. 7 , the downspout outlet  42  also extends downwardly from the lower portion  18  to form a lower extension  46 . In one embodiment, sides of the lower extension  46  include holes (not shown) for receiving a fastener (not shown) for attaching a downspout  11  of a first size, such as 2″ by 3″, to the lower extension  46 . The downspout  17  of the first size slides onto the overflow extension  46  and is screwed or otherwise fastened in place. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , rain water flows through the downspout, collects in the lower portion  18  of the diverter  10 . In  FIG. 14 , an exemplary rain water level is shown as L 1 . Rain water filtered down through one or both of the two conduit outlets  50  as indicated by arrows a through a conduit  58  into the barrel(s)  11 . The conduit is constructed from a tubing made from vinyl, plastic, rubber, or other material. 
         [0040]    When a rain barrel  11  is full and the barrel  11  is closed, water backs up through the conduit  58  and accumulates in the lower portion  18  of the diverter  10  until it reaches the height of the downspout outlet  42  or above it as indicated by L 2 . It then drains through the downspout outlet  42  as indicated by arrows b and down the downspout  17  away from the foundation of the building to which the downspout  17  is attached and bypassing the barrel  11 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, two ears  48  are located to the outside of the lower extension  46  and are used when the downspout measures a second dimension, such as 3″ by 4″. The ears  48  include holes for receiving a fastener for attaching a second sized downspout to the ears  48 . 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the lower portion  18  of the housing  16  also includes one or more two conduit outlets  50  that serve as outlets of the lower portion  18 . The outlets are fluidically coupled to an outlet of the diverter  10 . Each of the conduit outlets  50  has a crenellation  52  including vertical bars  54  extending up from the base of the lower portion  18 . The crenellations  52  filter or strain debris in the rain water exiting the housing  16  because any debris larger than a gap between adjacent bars  54  cannot flow past the bars and through the conduit outlet  50 . This reduces the amount of debris in the rain water exiting the housing  16 , thereby reducing flow of debris through the conduit outlets  50  and into the container  11  attached to the diverter  10  ( FIG. 1 ). Referring back to  FIG. 8 , walls  56  of the conduit outlets  50  extend through the bottom of the diverter  10 . A plug  57  ( FIG. 1 ) can be placed on the end of a conduit outlet  50  when water is not being diverted through it, such as when the conduit outlet  50  is not connected to a barrel  11  because of freezing temperatures. An exemplary plug  57  can be ordered from Caplug in Buffalo, N.Y. (Part No. A570A29A VC-1000-16 PVC WHT 905 100-16). 
         [0043]    One embodiment of the diverter  10  captures rain water runoff from residential and commercial downspouts  17 , and diverts the rain water into a free standing container  11 , such as a barrel  11 , set adjacent to the downspout  17 . For simplicity sake, the following description will use a barrel  11 , such as a rain barrel  11 , as an illustrative container  11 . However, it should be understood that other containers, including but not limited to, a cistern, can also be used with the diverter  10 . 
         [0044]    In one embodiment, the barrel  11  is completely enclosed (i.e., where applicable, there is no open top, all holes are capped, and the barrel  11  is sealed.) A sealed barrel ensures that pests, such as mosquitoes, cannot enter the collected water. When used with the diverter  10 , it also provides the benefit of eliminating overflow problems, as is explained below. In another embodiment, the rain barrel is at least partially open. 
         [0045]    To install the diverter  10 , at approximately five feet above the ground, the downspout  17  is cut and upper portion  14  of the diverter  10  is inserted over the downspout  17  such that the collar  24  engages the downspout  17 . Locating the diverter  10  at this height places the diverter  10  above the barrel  11 . It also places the diverter at a location at which users can easily see the diverter  10 , remove the door  12 , and clean out the interior of the diverter  10 . Fasteners, such as self-taping screws, are inserted through holes  28  on the collar  24  and the downspout  17  to secure the diverter  10  to the downspout  17 . Approximately eight inches of the remaining downspout  17  is removed. The remaining downspout  17  is then attached to the lower portion  18  of the diverter  10  by inserting the lower extension  46  of the lower portion  18  into the downspout  17 . Where the downspout  17  is a first size, such as 2″ by 3″, it is fastened in place by inserting fasteners, such as self-taping screws, through holes and through the downspout  17 . Where the downspout is a second size, such as 3″ by 4″, it is fastened in place by inserting fasteners, such as self-taping screws, into the holes (not shown) of the ears  48  of the lower portion  18 . 
         [0046]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , a first end of the conduit  58  is then attached to one or both of the conduit outlets  50  at the underside of the lower portion  18  of the diverter  10 . In an embodiment, the conduit  58  is opaque vinyl tubing, such as Part No. 2012105 from CK Plastics of St. Louis, Mo. Using this type of conduit, which reduces the amount of light transmitted through it reduces or eliminates growth of algae in the conduit. A second end of the conduit  58  is attached to one or two barrels  11 . Barrels  11  can be placed above the ground to provide room for dispensing collected water from the barrel  11 . In one embodiment, the second end of the conduit  58  is attached to one or two barrels  11  with a coupling, adaptor, or the like, such as a straight nipple adaptor, that is inserted into one of two bung caps on the top of the barrel  11 . 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10-11 , in another embodiment, the second end of the conduit  58  is connected to the barrel  11  using a first barrel seal  60 , such as the barrel seal available from Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc. of Apopka, Fla. under part no. FC34. In one embodiment, the first barrel seal  60  includes a cylindrical body  62  with internal threads  64  and an outer wall  66  including a first, tapered end  67  with arcuate protuberances  68  on opposite sides of the body  62 . A second end is opposite the first end  67  and includes an annular flange  70  with an ear  72 . The first barrel seal  60  is made of flexible vinyl or a material having similar strength and flexibility, including, but not limited to, rubber and low density polypropylene. 
         [0048]    The barrel  11  is prepared to accept the barrel seal  60  by drilling a first barrel hole  61  in the barrel  11 . In one embodiment, the first barrel hole  61  is drilled into the barrel  11  from the outside of the barrel  11  using a power drill (not shown) and a pilot drill (not shown) and a hole saw (not shown). The first barrel hole  61  is drilled into the barrel  11  on the top of the barrel  11  or on an upper portion of a sidewall of the barrel  11 . The first barrel seal  60  is inserted into the drilled first barrel hole  61 . 
         [0049]    A conduit adaptor  74 , such as a tubing adapter N12WP from Eldon James of Loveland, Colo., is threadably coupled to the first barrel seal  60 . The conduit adaptor  74  includes a first end  76  bearing external threads  78 , a middle section  80  with flats  82  for engaging a wrench, a ribbed section  84  with axially disposed ribs, and a second end  86  opposite the first end  76 , the second end  86  being tapered to accept the conduit  58 . Sealing tape (not shown), such as Teflon tape, can be wrapped on the threads  78  before the conduit adaptor  74  is screwed into the first barrel seal  60  to reduce or eliminate leaks. 
         [0050]    The conduit adapter  74  is threaded into the first barrel seal  60  with a user&#39;s hand until it is tightened as much as possible. During the tightening, a pliers (not shown) is used to grip the ear  72  of the first barrel seal  60  to resist rotation of the seal  60 . As the conduit adapter  74  is threaded into the first barrel seal  60 , the seal  60  expands radially to seal the hole in the barrel  11 . 
         [0051]    Rainwater collected in the barrel  11  is removed from the barrel  11  with a barrel outlet  88  such as a spigot  88 , as is shown in  FIGS. 12-13 . In one embodiment, the spigot  88  is a high flow spigot  88  to increase the rate of water coming out of the barrel. High flow spigots  88  have flow rates of about 7.5 to about 12.5 gallons per minute. An exemplary high flow spigot  88  is available from SMC The Specialty Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn. under part no. WFP 074-12F12MGH-B, BLUE HDL. This high flow spigot  88  provides about 10 gallons per minute. Low flow spigots, such as ones including needle valves, provide about 5 gallons per minute. 
         [0052]    An exemplary high flow spigot  88  includes a ball valve (not shown) that is actuated with a handle  90 , such as a lever  90 . The spigot  88  includes a spigot inlet  92  having internal threads (not shown) and flats  94  for engagement with a hand or a wrench or other tool. The spigot  88  also includes a middle section  96  housing the ball valve and a spigot outlet  98  opposite the spigot inlet  92 . The spigot outlet  98  includes external threads  100  sized to connect to a garden hose or the like. 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, the spigot  88  is connected to the barrel  11  with second barrel seal  102  and a spigot adaptor  104 , such as spigot adapter A12-16WP from Eldon James of Loveland, Colo. The second barrel seal  102  is identical to the first barrel seal  60  and is installed in the same fashion as the first barrel seal  60  except that a second barrel hole  106  is drilled into a sidewall of the barrel  11  near its bottom. 
         [0054]    The spigot adaptor  104  includes a middle portion  108  including flats  110  for engagement with a hand or a tool, such as a wrench. On each side of the middle portion  108  is an end  112 ,  114  with external threads  116 ,  118 , respectively. Sealing tape, such as Teflon tape, can be wrapped on the threads  116 ,  118  before the spigot adaptor  104  is screwed into the second barrel seal  102  and before the spigot  88  is screwed onto the spigot adaptor  104  to reduce or eliminate leaks. 
         [0055]    To attach the spigot  88  to the barrel  11 , the second barrel seal  102  is inserted into the second barrel hole  106 . The spigot adaptor  104  is screwed into the second barrel seal  102  by hand. The spigot  88  is screwed into the spigot adaptor  104  by hand as tight as possible. During the tightening, a pliers (not shown) is used to grip the ear  72  of the second barrel seal  102  to resist rotation of the seal  102 . 
         [0056]    In another embodiment, a spigot adapter  104  is not used. Instead, the spigot  88  is attached to the barrel  11  with the second barrel seal  102 . In this embodiment, one of the spigot  88  and the second barrel seal  102  includes male threads and the other includes female threads. 
         [0057]    By using the barrel seals  60  and  102 , the conduit  85  and the spigot  88  can be connected to the barrel  11  by working from only the outside of the barrel  11 . 
         [0058]    A garden hose, soaker hose, or the like can be connected to the threads  100  of the spigot  88 . To dispense rain water from the barrel  11 , the handle  90  is rotated to open the ball valve. To stop dispensing rain water from the barrel  11 , the handle  90  is rotated in the opposite direction to close the ball valve. The high flow spigot  88  provides much more flow than regular spigots, thereby providing a user with a more useable flow that is faster than flow from a regular spigot. 
         [0059]    To remove debris from the diverter  10 , the door  12  is opened, such as by sliding the exemplary door  12  along tracks  20  in the upper portion  14  of the housing  16 . This permits access to the interior of the diverter  10  to facilitate removal of leaves, twigs, or other debris that has accumulated inside the diverter  10 . 
         [0060]    In climates with freezing temperatures, the barrel  11  can be disconnected from the diverter  10  by removing conduit  85  from the conduit outlet(s)  50  and the conduit adapter  74 . The conduit outlets  50  are covered with the plugs  57 , the barrel is drained, and the conduit  85  can be stored inside a building. 
         [0061]    It is understood that the various preferred embodiments are shown and described above to illustrate different possible features of the invention and the varying ways in which these features may be combined. Apart from combining the different features of the above embodiments in varying ways, other modifications are also considered to be within the scope of the invention. 
         [0062]    The invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred embodiments described above, but rather is intended to be limited only by the claims set out below. Thus, the invention encompasses all alternate embodiments that fall literally or equivalently within the scope of these claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5