APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A DOWNSPOUT OF A GUTTER

• US 20110173897A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stacey Schneider
• Original Assignee: Stacey Schneider
• Inventors: SCHNEIDER, STACEY
• Granted Patent: US 9,238,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/08 Down pipes; Special clamping means therefor clamping pipes in general F16B, F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2013/0813 Water diverters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]

Abstract

An apparatus and method provides for protecting a downspout elbow or extension of a rain gutter from suffering and inflicting harm. The apparatus has a protective outer surface to guard against one or more sharp edges or surfaces of the downspout elbow or extension from suffering or inflicting harm. Methods of protecting the downspout elbow or extension include at least elastically deforming, sliding, rolling, or inverting a portion or all of the apparatus onto the opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting a downspout elbow or extension of a rain gutter from suffering and inflicting harm, the apparatus comprising:

a cap having;

a) a generally U-shaped body consisting of a single elastic material;

b) a pair of legs connected together to form a channel, the channel having a width generally commensurate with a wall thickness of the downspout elbow or extension; and

c) one or more of the pair of legs elastically deformed to attach the cap to an opening of the downspout elbow or extension to guard the downspout elbow or extension from suffering or inflicting harm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cap is a single piece construction having a unitary body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pair of legs has a taper, whereby the width of the channel decreases gradually across a depth of the channel to create a compression fit between the cap and the downspout elbow or extension.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more of the elastically deformed legs provide a fit tolerance, the fit tolerance permitting attachment of the cap to the downspout elbow or extension notwithstanding a misalignment or nonconformity in an edge or surface of the downspout elbow or extension.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an outer surface of one of the pair of legs has a taper whereby runoff water and any associated debris from the rain gutter passes uninhibitated over the tappered outer surface of the cap.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel has a continuous width generally egual to or less than the wall thickness of the downspout elbow or extension.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cap further comprises a generally downwardly extending member attached to a bottom leg.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the downwardly extending member comprises a stake for securing the cap and downspout elbow or extension to the ground.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the downwardly extending member comprises a chute for distributing runoff water from an opening of the downspout elbow or extension.

10. An apparatus for protecting an opening and adjacent portions of a downspout elbow or extension of a rain gutter from suffering and inflicting harm, the apparatus comprising:

a sleeve having;

a) a shape generally with a cross-section of the opening for a downspout elbow or extension of a rain gutter;

b) an inner surface with a stop to indicate an installed position;

c) an attachment section for covering generally the opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension in the installed position; and

c) an overhang section extending a distance outward from the opening of the downspout elbow or extension in the installed position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sleeve consists of an elastic material.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sleeve consists of a non-elastic material.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the stop comprises a step in a diameter for the inner surface, the step having a height generally equal to the wall thickness of the downspout elbow or extension to prevent the stop from inhibiting the flow of runoff water through the sleeve in the installed position.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the stop comprises a rib having a transitional outer surface adapted to transition runoff water from the downspout elbow or extension opening onto the sleeve in the installed position.

15. A method for protecting a downspout elbow or extension of a rain gutter from suffering and inflicting harm, the method comprising:

providing a cover having a shape generally of a cross-section for a downspout elbow or extension, an attachment section and overhang section; and

fixing the attachment section of the cover over an opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension for guarding an edge or surface of the downspout elbow or extension against suffering or inflicting harm.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising the fixing step comprises elastically deforming the attachment section for fitting over the opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising sliding the attachment section onto the downspout elbow or extension to an installed position indicated by a stop on an interior surface of the sleeve.

18. The method of claim 15 comprising leaving the overhang section extending a distance outward from the opening of the downspout elbow or extension to prevent open exposure of sharp edges or surfaces of the opening of the downspout elbow or extension.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the fixing step comprises unrolling the attachment section overtop the opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising inserting the overhang section into the opening of the downspout elbow or extension for covering both the inner and outer surfaces of the opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension.

21. A method for protecting an opening and adjacent portions of a downspout elbow or extension of a rain gutter from suffering and inflicting harm, the method comprising:

providing a cap having a generally U-shaped body consisting of a single elastic material and a pair of legs connected together to form a channel having a relaxed state width generally equal to or less than a wall thickness of the downspout elbow or extension; and

elastically deforming one or more of the pair of legs from their relaxed state width to stretch the cap over the opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension for guarding an edge or surface of the downspout elbow or extension against suffering or inflicting harm.