Abstract:
A downspout extending device is provided, comprising: an outer sleeve having a first end configured to receive an end of a first section of a downspout system; an insert slideable within the sleeve and extendable from a second end of the outer sleeve, the insert having an outer end configured to receive an end of a second section of the downspout system and an inner end remaining inside the sleeve when the insert is extended; and a locking mechanism configured to maintain the insert in a fixed position within the sleeve, whereby the downspout extending device couples the first and second sections of the downspout system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     The present application is related to, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/965,650, entitled DOWNSPOUT EXTENDING DEVICE and filed on Feb. 5, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to downspouts and, in particular, to downspout connectable extensions. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Downspouts are used to allow rainwater that falls on a building&#39;s roof and is collected by a gutter system to flow to the ground in a controlled manner. Downspouts are typically assembled from lengths of rectangular tubing connected to the gutter and each other with screws. Depending on the geometry of the gutter and side of the building, elbows (offsets) of various angles, Y&#39;s, T&#39;s, and short extensions may be necessary to maintain a proper flow angle as well as be desirable for aesthetic reasons. Straps, brackets or other like hardware are used to secure the downspout sections to the building wall. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the number and types of components and connections that may be used in even some basic downspout applications. It will be apparent that disassembly and re-assembly can be difficult when it is necessary to make repairs to a downspout, siding, or wall or when connecting or disconnecting the lower end of a downspout to an underground drain tile or pipe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a downspout extending device. The device comprises: an outer sleeve having a first end configured to receive an end of a first section of a downspout system; an insert slideable within the sleeve and extendable from a second end of the outer sleeve, the insert having an outer end configured to receive an end of a second section of the downspout system and an inner end remaining inside the sleeve when the insert is extended; and a locking mechanism configured to maintain the insert in a fixed position within the sleeve, whereby the downspout extending device couples the first and second sections of the downspout system. 
     The present invention also provides a method of connecting a first section of a downspout system to a second section of the downspout system. The method comprises: placing a downspout extending device between an open end of the first section and an open end of the second section of the downspout system, the downspout extending device having an outer sleeve with a first end and further having an insert slideable within the sleeve and extendable from a second end of the outer sleeve, the insert having an enlarged outer end and further having a first leaf spring secured at a first end to a first location on an inner wall of the insert and biased toward the inner wall of the insert, the first leaf spring having a first snap button secured to an opposite end and protruding through a first hole in the insert; placing the first end of the sleeve over the open end of the first section of the downspout system; extending the insert from the sleeve such that the enlarged outer end of the insert is placed over the second open end of the second downspout section; and allowing the first snap button to protrude through a first hole in the sleeve, whereby the insert is locked in a fixed position within the sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical disassembled prior art gutter and downspout configuration using prior art components; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of another typical prior art gutter and downspout configuration using prior art components; 
         FIG. 3  is side view of an embodiment of a downspout extending device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of two downspout extending devices of  FIG. 3  in use with a downspout system; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cut-away side view of the downspout extending device of  FIG. 3  with the snap buttons disengaged; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cut-away top view of the downspout extending device of  FIG. 3  with the snap buttons disengaged; 
         FIG. 6A  is a cut-away side view of the downspout extending device of  FIG. 3  with the snap buttons engaged; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a cut-away top view of the downspout extending device of  FIG. 3  with the snap buttons engaged. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is side view of an embodiment of a downspout extending device  100  of the present invention. The device  100  includes an outer sleeve  102 , with two ends  102 A,  102 B, and an insert  104  that slides within the sleeve  102  (see arrow ‘A’) and is extendable from one end of the outer sleeve  102 . (In the Figures, the dashed lines represent inner walls of the sleeve  102  and insert  104 .) The sleeve  102  has internal cross-sectional dimensions that are slightly larger than the outside cross-sectional dimensions of a conventional downspout. The insert  104 , while having smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the inside dimensions of the sleeve  102 , has an enlarged outer end section  106  that extends beyond one end  102 A of the sleeve  102 . The enlarged end section  106  is also slightly larger than the outside dimensions of a conventional downspout section. Thus, both the sleeve  102  and the end section  106  of the insert  104  are configured to receive ends of conventional downspout sections. Preferably, both the enlarged end section  106  and the opposite end  102 B of the sleeve  102  are corrugated or otherwise able close around the end of a section of downspout. While the downspout extending device  100  is shown in the Figures to have a rectangular cross-section, it will be appreciated that it may be manufactured with other cross-sectional shapes, such as circular, to accommodate a variety of types of downspouts. 
     The downspout extending device  100  also includes a mechanism, indicated generally by the brace  108  in  FIG. 3 , to lock the insert  104  in a fixed position relative to the sleeve  102 . The locking mechanism  108  includes a leaf spring  110  secured to the inner wall of the insert  104 . The leaf spring  110  is secured at one end to the insert  104  by a rivet  112  or other like means and has a snap button  114  at the opposite end which protrudes through a hole  118  in the insert  104 . A hole, or a number of spaced apart holes  116 , three of which are illustrated in  FIG. 3 , may be formed through the sleeve  102 . The snap button  114  and holes  116  are dimensioned such that the snap button  114  can extend through the holes  116  when the insert is in different positions within the outer sleeve  102 . When the snap button  114  extends through a hole  116  in the sleeve  102 , the insert  104  is locked in a fixed position within the sleeve  102 . When the snap button  114  is pushed downward against the bias of the leaf spring  110 , the insert  104  may be slid within the sleeve  102  as indicated by the arrow ‘A’ into a different position with the snap button  114  protrudes through a different hole  116  in the sleeve  102 . In one embodiment, the downspout extending device  100  includes two locking mechanisms  108  on opposites sides of the insert  104 , as illustrated generally by locking mechanisms  108 A,  108 B in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  6 A,  6 B having leaf springs  110 A,  110 B, snap buttons  114 A,  114 B, and holes  116 A,  116 B, respectively. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates examples of the use of the downspout extending device  100  in a downspout system attached to a house  10 . One device  100 A connects one elbow section  12 A, itself connected to a gutter  14 , to another elbow section  12 B. A second device  100 B couples a vertical downspout section  12 C to a drain  16 . The sleeve  102  and insert  104  may be fabricated in a variety of lengths in order to span various distances between downspout sections to be connected. Further, providing multiple holes  116  gives one device  100  the ability to span different distances between adjacent downspout sections. 
     The use of the downspout extending device  100  will be described with reference first to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and then to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B. If needed, the device  100  is first collapsed in length by pushing the snap buttons  114 A,  114 B inward through the holes  116 A,  116 B in the sleeve  102  and pushing the insert  104  into the sleeve  102  until the length of the device  100  is less than the distance between the ends of two sections of downspout  12 A,  12 B that are to be coupled. The device  100  may then be placed between the ends of two sections of downspout  12 A,  12 B. One end  102 A of the outer sleeve  102  is placed over the end of a first section of downspout,  12 B in the FIGs., as indicated by the arrow ‘B.’ With the snap buttons  114 A,  114 B pushed inward through the holes  116 A,  116 B in the sleeve  102 , the insert  104  may be extended, as indicated by the arrow ‘C’, such that the enlarged outer end section  106  of the insert  104  is placed over the end of the other downspout section  12 A, while leaving the other, inner end of the insert  104  within the sleeve  102 . When the snap buttons  114 A,  114 B align with respective holes  116 A,  116 B in the sleeve  102 , the snap buttons  114 A,  114 B snap through the holes  116 A,  116 B ( FIGS. 6   a ,  6 B), biased by their respective leaf springs  110 A,  110 B. The device  100  may thus be locked in place between the two sections  12 A,  12 B of the downspout system and water may flow freely from the gutter  14  through the first downspout section  12 A, through the device  100 , and into the other downspout section  12 B. To provide at least partial sealing of the joints between the ends  106  and  102 B of the device  100  and the downspout sections  12 A,  12 B, the ends  106  and  102 B may be crimped around the ends of the downspout sections  12 A,  12 B. 
     In addition, the force of the device  100  on the downspout sections  12 A,  12 B in the directions indicated by the arrows ‘A’ and ‘B’ may provide some structural support for the downspout system and reduce the number of straps typically used to secure a downspout system to a building. 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.