Down spout safety edge system

• US 7,739,839 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joshua P. Crabtree
• Original Assignee: Joshua P. Crabtree
• Inventors: Crabtree, Joshua P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): AKBASLI, ALP A
• Application Number:
  US12/004,385
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 52/16, 52/11, 527/161, 527/162, 527/166, 527/167, 138/96.R, 138/109, 138/110, 285/293.1
• 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

Abstract

An elbow is positionable at the lower end of a down spout. A protective strip fabricated of an elastomeric material is positioned over the bottom of the elbow. The strip is fabricated to include an elongated member in a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration. The elongated member covers a portion of the bottom of the elbow. The protective strip is fabricated to also include an elongated component in a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration. The elongated component fabricated of a metallic material and is totally encased within the elastomeric material. The component is adapted to be crimped onto the bottom of the elbow.

Claims

1. A down spout safety edge system comprising:

an elbow positionable at the lower end of the down spout with a bottom; and

a protective strip positioned over the bottom of the elbow fabricated of an elastomeric material, the strip being fabricated to include an elongated member with a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration and covering a portion of the bottom of the elbow, the protective strip being fabricated to also include an elongated component with a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration totally encased within the elastomeric material, the component being fabricated of a metallic material adapted to be crimped onto the bottom of an elbow.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the protective strip is supplied from a roll and cut to size for a particular application.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the protective strip is supplied in pre-cut segments and provided in a proper size for a particular application.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the elbow has a bottom in a rectangular configuration in any of a plurality of sizes.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the elbow has a bottom with undulations.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the protective strip include a seam located between the bottom and top edge of the elbow.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the elbow has a bottom in a circular configuration.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the protective strip is in a continuous loop-shaped configuration.

9. A down spout safety edge system for covering the sharp lower edge of an elbow on a down spout in order to abate accidental cutting in a safe, convenient and economical manner, comprising, in combination:

a structure having a roof with a rain gutter and a down spout, the down spout having a horizontal higher end and a horizontal lower end and with an elbow at the lower end of the down spout, each of the ends of the down spout being in a rectangular configuration, the elbow having a rectangular top coupled to the lower end of the down spout and a free bottom, the bottom of the elbow being in a vertical plane formed in a generally rectangular configuration with a short horizontal upper edge and a short horizontal lower edge with long vertical side edges between the upper and lower edges and with the top being formed with corner crimping, the upper and lower and side edges of the bottom of the elbow all being formed with undulations, each of the undulations having a radius of curvature of 1.00 inches plus or minus 20 percent; and

a protective strip positioned over the sharp upper and lower and side edges of the bottom of the elbow, the protective strip being fabricated to include an elongated member with a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration and with ends spaced to form an opening having a spacing of about 0.1875 inches plus or minus 20 percent and a depth of about 0.375 inches plus or minus 20 percent and covering a portion of the upper and lower and side edges of the bottom of the elbow to abate harm to a person touching the elbow, the protective strip also including a finger within the opening deforming in response to contact with the undulations of the elbow, the elongated member and finger being fabricated of an elastomeric material selected from the class of elastomeric materials including plastic and rubber, natural and synthetic, and blends thereof;

the protective strip being fabricated to also include an elongated component with a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration totally encased within the elastomeric material, the component being fabricated of a metallic material adapted to be crimped onto the bottom of the elbow and deformed to varying extents in response to the undulations of the elbow whereby movement of the protective strip with respect to the elbow after crimping is abated both longitudinally and laterally, the protective strip having ends in contact with each other to form a seam formed adjacent to one side edge of the bottom of the elbow essentially mid way between the upper and lower edges.